COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Planning Permission

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to commission a review of planning legislation relating to mobile telephone masts.

Bob Neill: We have no current plans to review this specific legislation.

Community Development: Planning Permission

George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the funding of the inspection of neighbourhood development plans.

Greg Clark: The Government have committed to providing up to £50 million until March 2015 to support local councils in making neighbourhood planning a success. This includes funding independent examinations of neighbourhood development plans.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Bob Neill: No jobs in the Department or its agencies and non-departmental bodies were transferred into the private sector in 2010-11.

Homelessness

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many local authorities have assumed homelessness duties to households exclusively on the grounds that the children were sharing a bedroom in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has issued guidance to local authorities on whether a duty is owed to households exclusively on the grounds that children are sharing a bedroom; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: Very broadly, somebody is statutorily homeless if they do not have accommodation that they have a legal right to occupy, which is accessible and physically available to them (and their household) and which it would be reasonable for them to continue to live in. Decisions on whether someone is statutorily homeless are made by local housing authorities. In making a decision, the sharing of bedrooms may be taken into account when considering whether the accommodation would be reasonable to continue to occupy (the local authority can take into account the general housing circumstances in the area). Statutory guidance to local authorities is set out in the “Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities”.
	Information about English local housing authorities' statutory functions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level. Data are published in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available in the Library of the House or via the DCLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	The data include information on households owed a main homelessness duty broken down by main priority need category and main reason for loss of last settled home. This does not allow identification of whether children are sharing bedrooms.

Local Government Finance: Markets

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds in the amount of income local authorities in Lancashire derived from renting out market stalls in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Bob Neill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Multiple Occupation

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to retain protection for tenants of houses in multiple occupation.

Grant Shapps: I believe that the current houses in multiple occupation legislation strikes a fair balance between the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants and have urged local authorities to make full use of their powers to tackle rogue landlords.

Non-domestic Rates

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many businesses his Department estimates will use the Business Rates Deferral Scheme announced in the autumn statement;
	(2)  how many businesses have used the Business Rates Deferral Scheme 2009-10.

Bob Neill: holding answer 30 January 2012
	No estimate has been made of the number of businesses that will use the business rates deferral scheme for 2012-13 which was announced in the autumn statement, 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810. In order to estimate the 2012-13 cost of the deferral scheme, the share of the total value of bills entering into the deferral, rather than the number of businesses, was estimated. The policy costing can be found at the following link:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/as2011policy_costings.pdf
	According to returns from local authorities, over 80,000 hereditaments were granted deferrals under the 2009-10 scheme.
	Unlike for the last deferral scheme, the early announcement of the 2012-13 scheme will allow businesses to take a considered view as to how to manage their finances. This Government are also making no unrealistic claims as to take-up. We are providing a tool for businesses to use if they wish. This is just one of a number of measures we have put in place to support businesses, such as the doubling of small business rate relief which could benefit approximately half a million ratepayers and mean that about a third of a million small businesses will pay no rates at ail in 2012-13.

Non-domestic Rates

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the reduction in yield from business rates due to successful appeals was in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of the total business rates yield this represented in each of the last 10 years.

Bob Neill: This information is not held centrally.

Non-domestic Rates

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the change was in the (a) amount and (b) proportion of business rates yield as a result of successful appeals in each billing authority in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: This information is not held centrally.

Right to Buy Scheme

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to introduce discounts for tenants who are eligible under the right to buy scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: Our consultation paper ‘Reinvigorating Right to Buy and one for one replacement’, published on 22 December 2011, gave details of our proposals to raise the upper limit on the Right to Buy discount entitlement to £50,000 throughout England. The consultation closed on 2 February.
	Subject to the outcome of the consultation, we intend to make any increased discount available to tenants very shortly.

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hove and Portslade of 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 632W, on the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, on what date he expects to make regulations under that Act;
	(2)  if he will make regulations under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Act 2010 to ensure that local authorities have a duty to try to reach agreement with communities when submitting proposals made under the Act;
	(3)  if he will make regulations under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Act 2010 to ensure that a time limit applies for dealing with proposals submitted by communities and councils made under the Act;
	(4)  if he will make regulations under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Act 2010 to empower parish councils to submit proposals directly to the Government.

Greg Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mike Weatherley) on 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 632W.

Travellers: Planning Permission

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish new guidelines in relation to Gypsy and Traveller planning policy.

Bob Neill: I refer my hon. Friend the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) on 20 January 2012, Official Report, column 986W.

Travellers: Planning Permission

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to issue a revised version of Circular 04/2007 on Planning for Travelling Showpeople.

Bob Neill: The Government intend to withdraw and replace the current planning circulars for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling showpeople. We published our draft new planning policy for Traveller sites last year. We are currently considering the responses to our consultation and intend to publish our new policy as soon as possible.
	In the meantime, decision makers are entitled to have regard to the fact that it is proposed to withdraw the circulars and replace them with the Government's draft new policy.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people were employed in the arts sector in (a) the North West and (b) Liverpool in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Vaizey: The latest Creative Industries Economic Estimates bulletin (December 2011) shows the following employment data for the North West of England:
	
		
			  Employees Self-employed Total employment 
			 Music and the visual and performing arts 2,557 7,300 9,857 
			 Arts and antiques 26 116 142 
			 Total 2,583 7,416 9,999 
		
	
	The Department does not hold data below regional level. However, data in the following table from Arts Council England shows the number of people employed in its regularly funded organisations in Liverpool in 2010-11:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Sum of total permanent employees 471 
			 Sum of total contractual employees 1,712

Arts Council

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has made an assessment of the equality impact assessment prepared by the Arts Council for its Renaissance Programme for museums; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England (ACE) makes funding decisions independently of Ministers, and in doing so, takes account of diversity and equality. ACE prepared an equality impact assessment for the Renaissance in the Regions Programme, which was reviewed by ACE's National Council and formally noted before any funding decisions were made. A copy of this assessment will be deposited in the Library of both Houses.

Arts Council

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on Sheffield of the Arts Council's objective under its Renaissance Programme that every child and young person should have the opportunity to experience museums and libraries.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England's (ACE) goal that every child should have the opportunity to experience museums and libraries is an important element of the Renaissance in the Regions programme for museums. I hope that many regional museums across England will benefit from the £178.2 million allocated to it for this spending period. ACE makes funding decisions independently of Government, and it is not for Ministers to determine how they invest in individual areas.

Arts Council

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he last met representatives of the Arts Council to discuss its objective that every child and young person should have the opportunity to experience museums and libraries.

Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not recently met representatives of Arts Council England (ACE) to discuss young people's opportunities to experience museums and libraries. However, in my capacity as Minister for Culture, I meet the chief executive of ACE on a fortnightly basis to discuss museum and library issues, in the context of its strategic objective to widen access and participation in the arts, museums and libraries, and its goal to ensure that every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts. My last meeting with ACE took place on 23 January.

Arts: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the creative industries in the Greater London area. [R]

Edward Vaizey: The Department does not have figures for employment in the creative industries broken down on a regional basis, although it is widely recognised that London is an important focus for many of the sectors. Overall, in 2010 the creative industries employed 1.5 million people in the UK (5.1% of UK employment).

Broadband

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether Broadband Delivery UK has obtained state aid approval for the local authorities superfast broadband contracting and roll-out process.

Edward Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has submitted a notification to the European Commission for an umbrella state aid scheme covering the UK's programme of procurement activities, such that BDUK would act as a competency centre for the UK to assure the European Commission that individual projects adhere to the principles of the umbrella notification. BDUK anticipates a decision from the Commission in March 2012.

Broadcasting

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on which BBC channels are broadcast outside the UK, by country; and at what cost per country to the (a) UK licence-fee payer and (b) public purse.

Edward Vaizey: The BBC does not routinely provide the Department with information on BBC channels broadcast outside the UK, with the exception of information provided in the public domain. When necessary for a specific purpose, the Department may seek to obtain further information.

Connecting Cities

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the Connecting Cities proposals announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer have been submitted to the European Commission for state aid approval.

Edward Vaizey: By 13 February 2012, the 14 eligible cities are due to submit their proposals for funding from the Urban Broadband Fund under the Super-Connected Cities Initiative. After the selection process, the winning cities' projects will be submitted for any necessary state aid approval. This Department will give the winning cities help and support in this process.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

John Penrose: No jobs were transferred to the private sector from this Department in 2010-11.
	We do not collate this information for our arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the right hon. Member.
	Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Manpower

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many consultants, contractors and other temporary staff from Pincent and Mason his Department employs.

John Penrose: If the hon. Lady means Pinsent Masons LLP, a firm of solicitors, they are currently engaged to provide legal advice on two projects: the national broadband project and the mobile infrastructure project. This follows two call-off competitions under the Government's Buying Solutions Legal Services framework contract for the provision of external legal advice. These appointments are of the law firm, not of temporary staff. Up to five full-time equivalents from the firm have worked on these two assignments. If the hon. Lady has another firm in mind then I am happy to respond in more detail if she writes to me directly.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether his Department has any other arrangements for ministerial travel; and how much his Department has spent on (a) private hire vehicles and (b) taxis for each Minister since May 2010.

John Penrose: From May 2010 the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), announced that Ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) would no longer have use of individual ministerial cars.
	The use of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) would be on a journey by journey basis where this was deemed the best value for money. From June 2010 the Secretary of State, DCMS Ministers and their offices have held Oyster cards enabling them to make use of public transport. The Department also has booking contracts with Hogg Robinson for rail travel and Capita Air Travel for travel by plane.
	The cost incurred by DCMS on travel by Ministers and officials from their private offices using GCDA and on private hire vehicles and taxis for the period from May 2010 to the end of December 2011 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Cost of ministerial cars GCDA, taxis and private hire vehicles 
			 £ 
			  May 2010 to December2011 
			 Ministers’ Offices Use of Government Car Service (GCS) (a) Cost of private hire vehicles (b) Cost of taxis 
			     
			 Secretary of State 8,325.28 300.00 5,630.67 
			 Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries 4,682.28 441.00 2,080.90 
			 Minister for Sport and the Olympics 5,601.82 393.52 3,109.59 
			 Minister for Tourism and Heritage 416.65 0.00 1,400.67 
			 Total 19,026.03 1,134.52 12,221.83 
		
	
	The annual savings achieved from terminating the GCS contract can be deduced from the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			 General ledger codes Code description 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 (1) 
			 01-3041-00000-6152 Secretary of State GCS 103,443.60 91,252.56 23,630.25 
			 01-3042-00000-6152 Minister for Communications GCS 21,327.89 19,678.55 — 
			 01-3043-00000-6152 Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries GCS 87,836.07 78,017.80 26,782.51 
			 01-3046-00000-6152 Minister for Sport and the Olympics GCS 90,416.17 90,921.82 27,122.74 
			 01-3049-00000-6152 Minister for Tourism and Heritage GCS — 56,949.70 3,390.52 
			   303,023.73 336,820.43 80,926.02 
			 (1) Including termination payments.

Diamond Jubilee 2012

Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) the economy and (b) businesses of Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee.

Hugh Robertson: VisitBritain’s overseas tourism marketing campaign for Britain will take advantage of the unique opportunities in 2012 afforded by Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee celebrations, the Olympic and Paralympic games and other major events. It aims to deliver an additional 4 million visitors to the UK and £2 billion extra spend over the next four years. In addition, an impact assessment on the one-off extra bank holiday to mark the diamond jubilee was published last year, available at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8519.aspx

Football

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to engage with the football authorities in working together to implement the recommendations of the Seventh Report of the Culture, Media and Sports Committee, HC 792-I, on football governance.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I are continuing to meet with the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League, collectively to hear their progress on the reforms Government have called for in their response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee football governance inquiry. We have set the football authorities a deadline to work together to agree proposals, including plans for implementation, by 29 February.

Football: Discrimination

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Football Association and (b) representatives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people on homophobia and discrimination in football; what steps he is taking to (a) tackle this issue and (b) provide support for those who have experienced discrimination; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Football Association (FA), Premier League and Football League are aware, from recent discussions, of the Government’s call for action in this area and are already signed up to the Government’s Charter for Action to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.
	The FA are currently consulting with the other football bodies on an action plan to progress this issue, which will form part of football’s formal response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee report into the governance of football inquiry, due by the end of February 2012.
	My officials also continue to work closely with the Government Equalities Office on the cross Government plan “Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality: Moving Forward” to eradicate homophobia and transphobia more widely in sport.

Libraries

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support his Department has allocated to local authorities to maintain library services during the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Funding for libraries is provided by local authorities, not by this Department. Our support has been through the Future Libraries Programme, launched in the summer of 2010, and led by the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council and the Local Government Association. This programme has supported over 30 participating authorities to explore options that will help them to deliver the front line services communities want and need, more efficiently. Learning from the 10 pilot projects is being shared widely to support non-participating authorities to deliver their services more efficiently too. Further information about the programme is available at:
	http://www.mla.gov.uk/what/programmes/the_future_libraries_programme
	Responsibility for libraries development has now transferred to Arts Council England and they launched the next phase of this work—The Libraries Development Initiative—again in partnership with the Local Government Group last November. Further details are here
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-for-funding/libraries-development-initiative/
	The initiative will run between March 2012 until March 2013 and support approximately eight to 10 projects. Each project will be awarded a maximum of £20,000, though amounts of funding allocated to each project will differ according to the scope and scale of work.

Libraries

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many books were loaned by libraries in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of loans were e-books in each such year;
	(2)  how much funding his Department provided for public libraries in each of the last five years; and if he will estimate the proportion of total library budgets that was spent on books in each such year.

Edward Vaizey: Data about the library sector are published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Copies of the publications are available in the House Libraries.
	Funding for public libraries is the responsibility of each local authority and is not provided by this Department. There are some 3,500 libraries in England (including mobiles), and they receive more than £900 million a year in funding from local Government. This Department funds Arts Council England who have launched The Libraries Development Initiative which will support up to 10 projects (with a maximum award of £20,000 per project) to explore how embedding arts and culture in libraries can bring benefits to library users and library services and increase cultural provision in local areas.

Libraries

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people visited public libraries in each of the last 10 years.

Edward Vaizey: The Department's “Taking Part” Survey indicates the level of library visits by region from 2005 to 2011 at this link:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/TP_Y7 _Q2_Figures _Libraries.xls
	We do not hold data for before this period.
	Robust data about the library sector, including visitor figures, are published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Copies of the publications are available in the House Libraries.

Mobile Phones

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when he expects the launch of the first 4G service in the UK will take place; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the further delay in the auction of 4G spectrum on the competitiveness of the UK economy.

Edward Vaizey: We expect the deployment of 4G mobile services in 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz to begin in 2013 in the UK, when the spectrum has been cleared and is available for 4G services to be deployed. The recent decision by Ofcom to re-consult on the terms of the auction of the spectrum does not affect the timing of the availability of the spectrum. However, Everything Everywhere has written to Ofcom to seek a variation to their licence that could see 4G services deployed in their existing 1800 MHz spectrum sooner.

Olympic Games 2012

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of all contacts between himself and the Minister of Culture in the Northern Ireland Assembly on the use of facilities within Northern Ireland for teams participating in the Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: Agreements for use of pre-games training camps (PGTCs) are made directly between a National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee and the facility. In my capacity as Minister for Sport and the Olympics, my only discussion directly with my Northern Ireland counterpart on PGTCs took place during my visit on 9 March 2011. Since then, I note that three PGTC agreements have been signed with facilities in Northern Ireland, including an agreement with the Chinese National Artistic Gymnastics team, reflecting the quality of the facilities that are available.

Olympic Games 2012

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Government are committed to publishing information about hospitality received by Ministers and permanent secretaries, from third parties in an official capacity. This information is published on a quarterly basis on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) transparency website at:
	http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/
	Hospitality and gifts offered to senior officials are treated in line with the civil service code and recorded in the DCMS’s hospitality register.

Olympic Games 2012: Poetry

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that poetry forms part of the events taking place during the Cultural Olympiad.

Edward Vaizey: Poetry will form an important part of the Cultural Olympiad, most notably in the form of Poetry Parnassus at the South Bank Centre from 26 June to 1 July. Further details can be found at the following link:
	http://festival.london2012.com/events/9000961412
	Also, through Winning Words, a nationwide programme to link poetry and sport on the occasion of the 2012 Olympic Games, permanent and temporary poetry installations will be created throughout the Olympic Park. Further details can be found at:
	http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-park/art-in-the-olympic-park/poetry-in-the-park/

Press

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on levels of competition within the newspaper publishing and distribution industry.

Edward Vaizey: Levels of competition are considered by the two independent competition authorities, the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission.

Public Libraries: Closures

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with which local authorities his Department has had discussions on the scale of library closures carried out or planned since May 2010.

Edward Vaizey: In 2011-12, departmental officials met with council officers from the metropolitan borough of Bolton, the London borough of Brent, the metropolitan borough of Doncaster, Gloucestershire county council, the London borough of Lewisham, Isle of Wight, and Somerset county council. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the respective council's library proposals in light of the Secretary of State's duties under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

Radio Frequencies

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether Ofcom's white space device trials in Bute and Cambridge will adequately measure potential interference from such devices to pre-existing users of ultra-high frequency spectrum in major urban areas; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the criteria are for measuring interference from white space devices in Ofcom's trials in Bute and Cambridge; and what assessment he has made of whether such criteria is representative of interference to pre-existing users of ultra-high frequency spectrum (a) nationwide and (b) in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Bute and Cambridge white space device trials are conducted by an industry consortium and are not Ofcom trials. The trials are focussed on testing the operation of white space devices rather than interference.
	However, my officials have spoken to the independent regulator, Ofcom about this matter. Ofcom is planning a series of tests to determine the interference potential of white space devices and the protection requirements for pre-existing services in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. The results of these tests will be taken into account during Ofcom's consultation process on the potential use of white space devices in the UHF bands.

Radio Frequencies

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to tackle the problem of unlicensed users of radio spectrum; and what resources he plans to allocate for that purpose.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. One of its functions is to ensure that use of the radio spectrum is correctly authorised in order to prevent harmful interference. Unauthorised use of the radio spectrum is a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. When Ofcom is made aware of such an offence, it will investigate and adopt a proportionate response to interference caused.
	Ofcom has 42 field officers deployed throughout the UK, who are engaged on the investigation of interference and enforcement action against unauthorised users.

Radio Frequencies

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many prosecutions of unlicensed users of radio spectrum have taken place in each year since 2006.

Edward Vaizey: The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, my officials spoke to Ofcom, who provided the following information:
	
		
			  Number of prosecutions of unlicensed users: 
			 2011 16 
			 2010 24 
			 2009 34 
			 2008 28 
			 2007 39 
			 2006 64

Round Peg Field Research

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on commissioning Round Peg Field Research company in the last year.

John Penrose: The Department has made no payments to the Round Peg Field research company in the last year.

Telecoms Council

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he commissioned research into the optimal levels for wholesale and retail prices for data roaming services prior to the Telecoms Council in Brussels on 13 December 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), did not commission any specific research into the optimal levels of wholesale and retail prices for data roaming ahead of the Telecoms Council in Brussels on 13 December 2011.
	On that occasion, council limited itself to discussion of three pre-notified topics: (i) how to ensure current negotiations were successfully concluded before the expiry of the existing Roaming regulation on 30 June 2012; (ii) the principles of service and technology neutrality; and (iii) international developments in mobile roaming regulation.
	Pricing levels were not discussed.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed with the Government of Pakistan his planned date for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

Philip Hammond: I have not yet had discussions with the Government of Pakistan. However, the Ministry of Defence has a programme of regular engagement with the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistan military, during which a variety of topics of shared interest have been discussed, including Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey on continued use of that country’s airspace by RAF planes flying from the UK to Afghanistan.

Philip Hammond: I have not been involved in any discussions on the issue of continued use of Turkey’s airspace with the Government of Turkey. However, I can confirm that representatives of my Department and the RAF are in regular dialogue with their Turkish counterparts on this issue.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has considered increasing the use of drones to monitor Taliban activity in Afghanistan.

Philip Hammond: The provision of military capability and equipment to support operations in Afghanistan is under constant review. We have a mix of airborne surveillance capabilities, of which, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are but one part, providing real time intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. Current UAS capability is being upgraded via the Watchkeeper programme which will begin to replace the Hermes 450 from the latter half of 2012. In December 2010, the Prime Minister also announced an increase in the number of the UK’s reaper remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) which continue to provide high-quality, persistent armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to UK and international security assistance force forces. New nano-UAS are also being acquired and planned for introduction in 2012.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is taking steps to improve wi-fi access for UK personnel serving in Afghanistan.

Andrew Robathan: There is extensive wi-fi provision for UK personnel serving in Afghanistan. Wi-fi is provided in all locations where there are more than 100 personnel. Additionally, around 150 stand-alone computers providing an internet connection for personal use are distributed across smaller bases. By the end of 2012, we expect that a number of these computers will be replaced by new machines with an additional voice over internet protocol (VOIP) capability, which allows the user to make telephone calls over the internet.

Armed Forces: Animals

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2012, Official Report, column 178W, on animals: euthanasia, what local contracts his Department uses for the disposal of bodies of working military animals.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 30 January 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 January 2012, Official Report, column 178W. The Ministry of Defence only ever puts down military working animals as a last resort because it has been judged unsafe to re-home the animal or where veterinary reasons indicate that re-homing would conflict with the animal's welfare. Where this proves necessary the animal is put down humanely.
	The bodies of deceased military working dogs and horses at the Defence Animal Centre are disposed of via a contract with Nottingham University Veterinary School. This contract covers the majority of military working animals that are put down.
	In addition, there are around 90 veterinary practices in the UK that are contracted to dispose of military working animals should the need arise.
	In Germany and Cyprus military working animals are normally put down by military veterinarians and then disposed of through local contract arrangements. In the Falkland Islands deceased military working animals are buried by service personnel at a site set aside for that purpose.

Armed Forces: Entertainers

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether celebrities have accepted payments from his Department for visiting service personnel in hospital in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence can confirm that no celebrity has accepted any form of payment from this Department for their visit to injured service personnel at Selly Oak hospital or the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham, or at hospitals in operational theatres in the last five years. Visits are private in nature and are deliberately not publicised. The numbers of visits are carefully controlled so as not to interfere with the operation of the hospital or compromise in any way patient care, but are very much welcomed by the patients and staff.

Departmental Assets

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2010, Official Report, columns 597-98W, whether it remains his policy that no other UK location (a) offers the benefits available at Marchwood Sea Monitoring Centre and (b) could deliver the military port functions as cost-effectively as Marchwood; whether any sale of the site to private owners would depend upon their continuing provision of the military port facilities; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: I recognise my hon. Friend’s interest in the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood and welcome the discussions that we have had on the subject since his question in November 2010. As I indicated at the time, the cost-effectiveness of providing the sea mounting capability from Marchwood is being tested against alternative options throughout the sale process.
	It remains the Ministry of Defence’s view, as set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, that we no longer need to retain ownership of a Sea Mounting Centre to deliver Defence outputs. The MOD is in the process of assessing the sale options, including alternative UK locations, to ensure value for the taxpayer while still maintaining the required capability for Defence. As I explained when we met in December 2011, no decision has yet been made on the future of the site, as the assessment process is ongoing. It is too early to rule out any options.

Departmental Manpower

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of full-time equivalent staff in his Department engaged in delivering (a) frontline and (b) corporate or back office services; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The armed forces do not divide their personnel in this way. For civilians, we are in the process of agreeing the definition of administrative posts with the Cabinet Office and the Treasury.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Andrew Robathan: Numbers on transfers to the private sector in financial year 2010-11 were as follows:
	
		
			  Headcount 
			 MOD Main 460 
			 Trading Funds * 
			 Total 460 
			 Notes: 1. All totals have been individually rounded to the nearest 10, and may not sum precisely to totals, “*” indicates between 1 and 4. 2. Data listed excludes Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and locally engaged civilian (LEC) personnel for whom exit data are not available. 3. Separate data are not held for non-departmental public bodies. 4. The departmental figure represents the number of civilian staff transferred. 5. It is also possible for a temporarily vacant post to be transferred, but such information is not held centrally.

Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Jubilee Medal will be awarded to members of the armed forces who have been made compulsorily redundant prior to the qualifying date.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 2 February 2012
	The first members of the armed forces to be made redundant under the current scheme are due to leave by 29 February 2012. Personnel that depart prior to that date, are volunteers who have specifically requested earlier exit points. Any member of this cohort leaving service before the qualifying date for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal (6 February 2012) who would otherwise have qualified, will become ineligible as a consequence.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which EU (a) directives, (b) regulations and (c) other legislation affecting his Department require transposition into UK law; and what estimate he has made of the cost to (i) the public purse and (ii) the private sector of such measures.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) was responsible for the transposition of the defence and security directive (2009/81/EC). That directive was transposed by the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1848). The regulations were laid before Parliament on 29 July and came into force on 21 August 2011.
	The direct cost to the MOD of transposing the directive was estimated to have been in the region of £325,000. With regard to the private sector, it was concluded in the impact assessment produced with the regulations that while some initial familiarisation costs would certainly be incurred, such as training, it was not possible to estimate the overall costs and benefits with any precision as no suitable data was available. Consequently, the overall net impact could not be forecast or monetised.
	There are currently no further EU measures, for which the MOD is responsible, requiring transposition into UK law.

Ex-servicemen: Homelessness

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to improve support services available to current and former armed forces personnel who (a) are homeless and (b) have financial problems.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to work closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government, devolved Administrations, other Government Departments, ex-service organisations and other service providers to ensure a co-ordinated and structured approach to the issue of homelessness amongst former members of the armed forces. Our aim is to prevent new service leavers becoming homeless and to provide an effective safety net for those ex-service personnel who find themselves in that position. Specialist housing advice is provided by the Joint Services Housing Advice Office. This has been established to provide service personnel and their families with information and advice on the wide range of civilian housing options. These include: Homebuy Direct, New Home Build Buy and First Buy. Members of the armed forces are given the highest priority for these schemes.
	Measures have been introduced making it easier for former service personnel to access social housing, become home owners, or remain in their previous property at market rate as an interim measure, should a surplus be available.
	We work with local authorities to ensure that the use of surplus MOD property in this way does not inadvertently disadvantage the service leaver's position on social housing waiting lists. The MOD has also gifted land and provided financial support for supported housing projects at Aldershot and Catterick.
	Service personnel are encouraged to contact their chain of command when they face financial difficulties. General advice on debt is available to personnel at all levels, and ranges from written guides, financial expertise of pay staff and service family organisations, to ensuring there are good links to national organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau and Money Advisory Service. Work continues on the development and delivery of improved financial education, and the increased availability of financial information and advice throughout the career of service personnel. This is being produced in phases. The first phase, which is well under way, targets education for new entrants; the following two phases will concentrate on remaining serving personnel and service leavers.
	All service leavers are entitled to some form of resettlement advice which includes financial related briefings, to which spouses/partners are also invited, covering budget and debt management. If individuals wish further advice in-depth one-to-one meetings are also offered and organisations that can provide advice on debt management are signposted by resettlement staff.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to measure progress on the implementation of policies supporting the Big Society initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence continues to engage with local communities in a number of ways, including through initiatives such as the Armed Forces Community Covenant and our Sponsored Cadet Forces.
	The Armed Forces Community Covenant complements the Armed Forces Covenant, a voluntary statement of mutual support between the armed forces community and wider society. There is now a statutory requirement for the Defence Secretary to report on progress with the covenant each year. An interim report was published on 20 December 2011 which reviews the progress on the Armed Forces Community Covenant. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
	The Ministry of Defence Sponsored Cadet Forces encourage teamwork, respect, initiative, selflessness and experience through the use of military themes based upon the culture and ethos of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. This in turn allows young people to appreciate the importance of making a contribution to the communities to which they belong. This is currently being considered as part of our Youth Engagement Review.

JUSTICE

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the highest number was of previous convictions for breach of anti-social behaviour order for an individual convicted of an offence of breach of anti-social behaviour order without being sent to prison in each of the last three years; and how many offences they had committed in total at the point of sentence for this offence.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the highest number of previous convictions for breach of an antisocial behaviour order, for individuals convicted of this offence in the years 2008 to 2010 who received a sentence other than immediate custody. It also shows their total number of previous cautions and convictions, and previous immediate custodial sentences. Although these individuals did not go to prison for their index offence, they had all previously been to prison for the same offence. The figure for 2008 and 2010 are for the same individual, with a criminal history of over 30 years. The figure for 2009 is for an individual with a criminal history of over 20 years.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			 Highest number of previous convictions for breach of an antisocial behaviour order, for someone convicted of an offence of breach of an antisocial behaviour order without being sent to prison, in England and Wales in the years 2008 to 2010 
			  2008 2009 2010 
			 Number of previous convictions for breach of an antisocial behaviour order 88 69 101 
			 Number of previous cautions and convictions for any offence at time of conviction 288 196 302 
			 Number of previous immediate custodial sentences for any offence at time of conviction 100 67 112

Approved Premises: Females

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2012, Official Report, column 402W, on approved premises: females, what plans he has to establish new approved premises for female offenders.

Crispin Blunt: There are no current plans to establish new approved premises for female offenders. The National Offender Management Service will develop a commissioning strategy for approved premises following the conclusion of the Probation Review.

Cannabis: Sentencing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of sentencing guidelines for possession of cannabis; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Sentencing guidelines are issued by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales. On 24 January 2012, the Council issued a definitive guideline on drug offences, including possession. The guideline sets out factors for courts to consider when determining the seriousness of an offence and the appropriate sentence. For possession of cannabis and other class B drugs, the guideline gives a range between a discharge and 26 weeks' custody depending on the seriousness of the offence. Courts can depart from guidelines, up to the maximum penalty of five years' custody for class B possession offences, if it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Crime: Ethnic Groups

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of (a) people, (b) women and (c) black and minority ethnic people aged 18 to 24-years-old who received a criminal conviction had previously been convicted of one or more criminal offences in the 12 months preceding their offence in each year since 2008.

Crispin Blunt: The following table gives the number and proportion of sentencing occasions where an offender, aged between 18 and 24, had received a criminal conviction for an indictable offence and had been convicted of one or more criminal offences in the 12 months preceding their sentence, in each year since 2008, by gender and ethnic group.
	These figures are a further breakdown of Table A7.9 of "Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly update to December 2010" published by Ministry of Justice on 26 May 2011. The full report can be found at the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice-stats/criminal-stats-quarterly-dec10.pdf
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			 Number and proportion of sentencing occasions, for indictable offences, where the offender was aged 18 and 24 and had received at least one conviction in the previous 12 months, by gender and ethnicity, 2008 to 2010 
			  All sentencing occasions for indictable offences Sentencing occasions where the offender had been convicted in the previous 12 months Percentage (%) 
			 2008    
			 All(1) 97,563 50,836 52.1 
			 Male 85,653 45,411 53.0 
			 Female 11,842 5,412 45.7 
			 White 78,598 42,614 54.2 
			 Other ethnic group 17,722 7,853 44.3 
			     
			 2009    
			 All(1) 99,175 51,013 51.4 
			 Male 87,081 45,801 52.6 
			 Female 12,015 5,199 43.3 
			 White 80,202 42,585 53.1 
			 Other ethnic group 17,954 8,071 45.0 
			     
			 2010    
			 All(1) 101,693 51,810 50.9 
			 Male 89,537 46,511 51.9 
			 Female 12,040 5,273 43.8 
			 White 81,883 43,057 52.6 
			 Other ethnic group 18,770 8,387 44.7 
			 (1 )Includes offenders of unknown gender and unknown ethnicity

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Jonathan Djanogly: For the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011, there were no jobs transferred to the private sector.

Employment Tribunals Service

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the ratio was of multiple claims per multiple case (a) accepted and (b) disposed of by the employment tribunal system in each year since 2005-06.

Jonathan Djanogly: Claims to employment tribunals may be classified into two broad categories: singles and multiples. Multiples are where two or more people bring claims, involving one or more jurisdiction(s), and usually against a single employer (but not necessarily so, for instance in transfer of undertaking cases). To be joined in a multiple, individual claims must arise out of the same or very similar circumstances. As a multiple, the component claims are processed, and judicially managed, together.
	Statistics published annually and quarterly by HM Courts and Tribunals Service provide a breakdown of claims received (or ‘accepted’) and concluded (or ‘disposed of’). Since the financial year 2006-07, this breakdown has included that between single and multiple claims.
	The following tables set out the average ratio of multiple claims to multiple cases accepted and disposed of by employment tribunals in each financial year since 2005-06. For the purposes of this answer, we have defined 'multiple claims' as the individual component claims brought or handled within a multiple; and 'multiple cases' as the combined groupings formed by the component claims. Many of the larger multiples in the system are currently stayed or otherwise unable to progress to final disposal, for example pending the outcome of appellate proceedings. This includes the quarterly resubmissions of certain multiples containing several thousand component claims. These resubmissions largely account for the difference between the average ratios at the acceptance and disposal stages.
	
		
			 Table A: Average ratio of multiple claims to multiple cases accepted (1) 
			  Claims accepted 
			  Number of multiples Total number of claims Ratio of claims to cases 
			 2005-06 5,900 62,500 10.7 
			 2006-07 6,700 78,400 11.8 
			 2007-08 6,600 133,500 20.3 
			 2008-09 7,400 88,000 12.0 
			 2009-10 7,400 164,800 22.4 
			 2010-11 5,900 157,900 26.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Table B: Average ratio of multiple claims to multiple cases disposed (1) 
			  Claims disposed 
			  Number of multiples Total number of claims Ratio of claims to cases 
			 2005-06 16,600 70,800 4.3 
			 2006-07 19,800 84,100 4.3 
			 2007-08 20,300 56,300 2.8 
			 2008-09 21,600 69,100 3.2 
			 2009-10 25,500 97,500 3.8 
			 2010-11 25,400 113,200 4.4 
			 (1) Source—ET Central database February 2012. Data is taken from the live database and includes all subsequent updates and therefore may not match published stats. This is Management Information only. All figures are rounded independently thus totals may not add. The following conversions have been used throughout: values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; values of 1,000 and over are rounded to nearest 100. The average (arithmetic mean) ratios provided will be significantly higher than the median due to a limited number of cases involving a large number of claims.

HM Prison Service: Ethnic Groups

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to encourage applications from black and minority ethnic groups for jobs in HM Prison Service.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service places the highest priority to increasing the number of applications from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. In particular, HM Prison Service, which is one of the largest recruiters of civil servants, has focussed much of its attention on recruitment activity at prison officer level and striven to attract a more diverse range of applicants. This has seen increased levels of applicants from BME backgrounds.
	Between 2009 and 2011, HM Prison Service saw an increase of BME candidates recruited to all grades, from 6.1% to 11.6%. This was achieved against a back drop of reducing recruitment activity as HM Prison Service began the process of restructuring.
	Where recruitment is taking place, attraction strategies are geared to the local population. Localised activity reflects the recruitment need and includes the use of local newsprint, radio and poster advertising, as well as diverse online media such as Google, Jobcentre Plus and other recognised jobsites.

Illegal Immigrants: Prosecutions

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employers were prosecuted for employing illegal immigrants in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to employing illegal immigrants, England and Wales, 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in May, 2012.
	
		
			 Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to employing illegal immigrants, England and Wales 2010 (1,2) 
			 Statute Offence description Proceeded against 
			 Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, s.8 as amended by the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004, s.6 Employing a person aged 16 and above subject to immigration control. 5 
			 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, s.21 Employing a person knowing that they are an adult subject to immigration control. 8 
			 Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006, R.12(1)(b) and (6) Employing accession state national subject to worker authorisation in accession period. 1 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders served part or all of their sentence working on community projects in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: During the period January 2011 to December 2011 a total of 504 offenders were allocated to Community Payback work projects in the borough of Bexley. In total they completed 30,140 hours of work for the benefit of the local community.

Police Custody: Ethnic Groups

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people aged 18 to 24 years old were held in custody in each year since 2008; and what proportion and how many such people were (a) women and (b) black and ethnic minorities.

Crispin Blunt: The following table shows the number of 18 to 24-year-olds in prison in England and Wales, and the proportions that are (a) female and (b)from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, as at 30 June in each year since 2008.
	
		
			  Total aged 18-24 of which :  female of which :  BME 
			 June  N umber % N umber % 
			 2008 22,218 1,070 5 6,533 29 
			 2009 22,824 959 4 6,702 29 
			 2010(1) 22,852 994 4 6,507 28 
			 2011 21,974 903 4 6,325 29 
			 (1) Due to the introduction of a new prison IT system, prison population data from 2010 onwards is taken from a different source. 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Rape: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many allegations of rape in the northern division of Cambridgeshire constabulary resulted in (a) arrest, (b) charge and (c) custodial sentence of offenders in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts for rape offences, in Cambridgeshire police force area from 2000 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
	Court proceedings data are not available at separate divisions within a police force area.
	Charging data are not collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice. The number of defendants proceeded against has been given in lieu.
	Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in May 2012.
	It is not possible to provide the requested arrests data. The information collected by the Home Office for its arrests data collection is on an aggregate basis by police force area, and provided at offence grouping level, for example, sexual offences.
	
		
			 Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts for rape offences, in Cambridgeshire police force area, 2000 to 2010 (1, 2, 3, 4) 
			 Defendants 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Proceeded against 27 33 24 21 27 28 23 28 28 33 47 
			 Convicted 4 7 9 6 4 11 6 7 10 17 16 
			 Sentenced 4 7 9 6 4 11 6 7 10 17 16 
			 Of which:            
			 Custodial sentence 4 7 9 6 4 10 6 7 9 16 12 
			 Non-custodial sentence 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 4 
			 (1) Includes attempted rape. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Convictions for an offence may exceed prosecutions in the same year, as defendants may have a committal hearing at magistrates courts in one reporting period and be convicted at the Crown court in the next. The principal offence selected may also change during a set of proceedings. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Sentencing: Young People

Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many sentences were handed down to young adults aged 18 to 24-years-old of each sex in (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts in each year since 2008; and what proportion of all sentences such sentences represented.

Crispin Blunt: The number of young adults, aged 18 to 24, sentenced by gender and court type in England and Wales from 2008 to 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in May 2012.
	
		
			 Persons sentenced aged 18-24, by court type, England and Wales, 2008-2010 
			    2008 (1) 2009 2010 
			 Males Magistrates court Aged 18 to 24 232,442 242,041 224,486 
			   Other ages 733,834 720,885 698,486 
			   Proportion aged 18 to 24 24.1 25.1 24.3 
			       
			  Crown court Aged 18 to 24 28,244 30,483 32,781 
			   Other ages 50,703 53,629 58,017 
			   Proportion aged 18 to 24 35.8 36.2 36.1 
			       
			 Females Magistrates court Aged 18 to 24 52,808 62,125 58,125 
			   Other ages 225,827 242,405 235,997 
			   Proportion aged 18 to 24 19.0 20.4 19.8 
			       
			  Crown court Aged 18 to 24 2,591 2,780 2,893 
			   Other ages 7,112 7,505 8,079 
			   Proportion aged 18 to 24 26.7 27.0 26.4 
			       
			 All persons (2) Magistrates court Aged 18 to 24 289,687 311,568 289,393 
			   Other ages 975,600 992,313 966,437 
			   Proportion aged 18 to 24 22.9 23.9 23.0 
			       
			  Crown court Aged 18 to 24 30,835 33,263 35,674 
			   Other ages 57,815 61,134 66,096 
			   Proportion aged 18 to 24 34.8 35.2 35.1 
			 (1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (2) Includes those cases where the defendant's sex was ‘not stated’. Notes: 1. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences It is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Young Offender Institutions: Death

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will establish a public inquiry into the causes of deaths in custody in young offenders' institutions and measures to reduce and prevent them.

Crispin Blunt: Every death in prison is a tragedy and affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply. Ministers and the Ministry of Justice including the National Offender Management Service are committed to learning from such events to reduce the number of self inflicted deaths in prison custody.
	Deaths in custody are among the most scrutinised of all events in custody. All deaths in prison are subject to police investigation, a coroner's inquest before a jury and an independent investigation by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman. In addition, there will be a Serious Case Review, commissioned by the relevant Local Safeguarding Children's Board, into each of the recent deaths of the two young people.
	It is established practice for investigators to share emerging findings so that any immediate actions necessary can be taken to reduce the likelihood of further deaths.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Billing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of his Department's invoices from its private sector suppliers were paid (a) within 14 days, (b) between 15 and 30 days, (c) between 31 and 60 days, (d) between 61 and 90 days and (e) more than 90 days after receipt in the last 12 months.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office endeavours to pay all its suppliers within five days of receipt of a valid invoice. The Department's performance over the last 12 months between January 2011 and December 2011 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Invoices received Late payments Performance against five-day target (%) 
			 2011    
			 January 75 1 98.7 
			 February 67 0 100 
			 March 130 1 99.2 
			 April 93 0 100 
			 May 58 1 98.3 
			 June 93 1 98.9 
			 July 87 1 98.9 
			 August 72 1 98.6 
			 September 85 1 97.6 
			 October 67 0 100 
			 November 76 0 100 
			 December 76 2 97.4 
			 Total 979 9 99.1 
		
	
	All valid invoices were processed within 14 days.

Government Departments: Buildings

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he plans to hold discussions with the Scottish Government on making empty and under-utilised Government-owned buildings available to small businesses in Scotland.

David Mundell: As set out in the answer given by the Minister for Business and Enterprise, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk), on 30 January 2012, Official Report, column 456W, the Government will be speaking to all of the devolved Administrations to explore the possibility of extending this initiative across the UK. The Scotland Office will assist these discussions.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Northern Ireland

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when she plans to announce an aviation strategy for Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what representations she has received from Northern Ireland airports on the publication of an aviation strategy.

Michael Penning: The Government are developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation which will support economic growth and address aviation's environmental impacts. Last year we issued an aviation policy scoping document calling for evidence on a range of strategic issues. We received approximately 600 responses, including from a number of Northern Ireland stakeholders. We will publish our framework for consultation in March 2012.

Crossrail Line

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on whether Crossrail has carried out an assessment of the scope for using alternatives to road haulage for the disposal of earth following tunnel excavation.

Michael Penning: During the parliamentary examination of the Crossrail Act a construction strategy was developed that included the objective to remove excavated material by rail and water transport where reasonably practicable. The Crossrail Environmental Statement that accompanies the Crossrail Act describes how waste, materials and excavated materials will be transported. Crossrail is aiming to keep lorry movements to the lowest number possible and remains committed to its target to transport 85% of the spoil from the tunnels by rail or river transport.
	When the Crossrail Environmental Statement was produced it was assumed that all excavated material would be transported to landfill sites, with around 30% of excavated material being transported by rail, 15% by water and the remainder by road. Subsequently Crossrail has entered into a number of agreements for the transportation of excavated materials to support other developments—most notably the agreement with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for the development of a wetland nature reserve at Wallasea Island in Essex. With these agreements in place Crossrail will now transport 85% of its excavated material by water and rail.

Departmental Apprentices

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many apprentices were employed by her Department between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships her Department will sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April and March 2013.

Norman Baker: The number of apprentices employed by the Department between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011 is:
	(a) 164
	(b) 208
	The number of apprentices the Department plans to sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April 2012 and March 2013 is currently planned as:
	(i) 148
	(ii) 163.

Departmental Drinks

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) her Department and (b) its public bodies have spent on (i) wine, (ii) other alcoholic refreshments and (iii) bottled water since May 2010.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport (DFT) holds no stocks of wine. Generally, the Department operates a no alcohol policy. Information on spend incurred since May 2010 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  (i) Wine (£) (ii) Other alcoholic refreshments (£) (iii) Bottled water (£) Notes 
			 Central Department    — 
			 Air Accidents Investigation Branch 0 0 0 — 
			 Marine Accident Investigation Branch 0 0 0 — 
			 Rail Accident Investigation Branch 0 0 10 Purchased for Incident response vehicles. 
			      
			 Executive Agencies     
			 Driving Standards Agency (DSA) 0 0 2,843 Some occasional driving test centres (DTCs) are located in temporary structures, such as 'Portakabins', with no mains water supply. The bottled water purchased by DSA since May 2010, is to supply the driving examiners based at these DTCs with drinking water. 
			 Driver and vehicle Licensing Agency 0 0 0 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 0 0 0 — 
			 Highways Agency 0 0 See note Traffic Officer (TO) vehicles carry supplies of bottled water for emergency use (e.g. for when TOs and/or customers are stranded by bad weather), but this is sourced locally and could only be provided at disproportionate costs. 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 0 0 2,185 Supply to volunteer Coastguard Rescue Teams in remote highland and island locations, and to premises where costs of installing other drinking supplies is prohibitive. 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0 0 0 — 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 0 0 0 Excludes water cooler bottles as this data could only be obtained at disproportionate cost 
			      
			 Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB)     
			 Directly Operated Railways Ltd 276 262 121 Figures represent receipted expenditure in respect of corporate hospitality at events such as the Rail Industry annual awards dinner and the Railway Charity Ball. Expenditure on bottled water also includes items purchased for meetings outside of DORs HQ where in house refreshments were not available. 
			 High Speed Two Limited (HS2 Ltd) 0 0 2,530 Relates to bottled water coolers in the office up to Summer 2011 after which this was no longer purchased. 
		
	
	
		
			 British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) 226 74 30 Excludes £136 incurred as part of a Stakeholder Dinner hosted by BTPA and where the receipt gives a total for beverages with no breakdown 
			 Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) See notes See notes See notes THLS does not hold this information in a readily accessible form. THLS is funded through the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF). The GLF itself is funded mainly through the payment of Light Dues paid by ships entering UK and Irish ports, and additionally by return on investments and income generated by commercial opportunities. 
			 Northern Lighthouse Board 1,661 Included in (i) 765 Bottled water is supplied to technicians at some lighthouses where safe drinking water is not available. The Board does not supply bottled water for meetings. All expenditure on alcohol is made in accordance with the Board's rules to ensure financial regularity and propriety and is subject to individual authorisation. The Northern Lighthouse Board is funded through the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF). The GLF itself is funded mainly through the payment of Light Dues paid by ships entering UK and Irish ports, and additionally by return on investments and income generated by commercial opportunities. 
			 Passenger Focus 0 0 0 — 
			 Railway Heritage Committee 80 60 60 Estimated costs

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs in (a) her Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which she is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Norman Baker: There are no jobs in the Department for Transport, its agencies or non-departmental public bodies which were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what she proposes will be the total (a) expenditure from her Department's budget and (b) Network Rail's regulated asset base on the east-west rail link in each of the remaining years of the comprehensive spending review period.

Michael Penning: holding answer  20 January  2012
	As part of the Growth Review, the Department for Transport committed to fund the east-west rail link, subject to finalising a detailed business case and a satisfactory local contribution being made.
	Provided that these two conditions are satisfied, the Department will fund the scheme for delivery in Control Period 5 (CP5). The first year of CP5 is the final year of the current spending review period (i.e. 2014-15). It is therefore possible that some expenditure would be incurred in that year, depending on the final expenditure profile. Funding discussions for CP5 with the rail industry and HM Treasury are ongoing.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010.

Norman Baker: In 2011 the Department for Transport agreed a contract for vehicle hire under the Government Procurement Service Vehicle Hire Framework.
	No other central contracts have been agreed for vehicle hire or taxi provision.

Departmental Work Experience

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work experience or traineeship schemes her Department offers to minority groups.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport offers internships to minority groups through the Civil Service Summer Diversity Programme, which offers high calibre students from ethnic minority groups the opportunity to work in Government Departments for six to nine weeks during the summer.
	The Department also contributes to the Government’s social mobility strategy by offering work experience as part of the Whitehall Internship Programme, a two-week residential programme for 16 to 18-year-olds from under-represented backgrounds. DFT will offer three placements this summer.
	As part of the civil service-wide “Get Britain Working” programme, the Department for Transport is offering a number of Work placements to jobseeker’s allowance customers aged 18 to 24. Eligible individuals are those whose limited experience of work is acting as a barrier to employment.
	The Department also offers training opportunities in the form of apprenticeships.

Freedom of Information

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on the website.

Norman Baker: The Department does not publish all responses on its website. It does not publish those where no information is disclosed, or where we consider the information is unlikely to have a wider public interest. All disclosures are published in our FOI disclosure log at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/foi
	Most of our executive agencies have their own disclosure logs on their own websites (accessible via the above link) and they follow broadly the same policy on the publication of responses.
	The Department does not hold a record of the average period between responding to requests and the information being available on its websites, and could not provide the information for the whole Department without incurring disproportionate cost. We have however looked at responses published on the main DFT site over the past six months and calculated that the median average period before publishing responses after they have been issued by the central Department was four days. This is consistent with our aim to publish responses promptly after they have been issued to the applicant, so as to reduce the likelihood of repeat requests for the same information.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of Lden noise levels at Heathrow airport; and what assessment she has made of the Lden noise level in (a) Kingston, (b) Putney, (c) Richmond Park and (d) Twickenham constituency.

Michael Penning: Under the 2002 European Environmental Noise Directive, it is a requirement that strategic noise maps are produced for major airports for 2006 and thereafter every five years. The airport is required to produce a Noise Action Plan based on these maps.
	The 2006 noise maps for Heathrow showing Lden noise levels are available on the Civil Aviation Authority's website and Heathrow's Noise Action Plan is available on its website at:
	http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/ERCD0706.pdf
	http://noise.heathrowairport.com/assets/Internet/Heathrow_noise/Assets/Downloads/Statics/2010-noise-action-plan-contours_LHR.pdf
	In its Noise Action Plan, Heathrow airport has voluntarily committed to produce these contour maps annually. The maps for 2010 are available on Heathrow's website.

London and South Eastern Railway

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of overcrowding on Southeastern Railway services; and what representations she has received on this issue.

Norman Baker: Southeastern, under the terms of its franchise agreement, are required to carry out passenger counts to enable them to plan and deploy their rolling stock fleet to best meet passenger demand. Southeastern submit morning and evening peak train plans to the Department for each timetable change which are assessed using the passenger counts to determine crowding.
	These assessments contain commercially confidential information and are not published, but the Department uses the data as the base for strategic forecasts of peak demand change. The latest assessment for Southeastern was for the December 2011 timetable change.
	Statistics on train crowding are published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in the National Rail Trends (NRT) Yearbook, which is available from the ORR website
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2026
	On the specific issue of crowding on Southeastern's services, during the last four months our records show four representations from two members of the public.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations her Department has received on allowing car-owners to pay car tax by direct debit on a monthly basis rather than in one or two fixed payments; and if she has any plans to bring forward such a measure.

Michael Penning: Paying vehicle excise duty or car tax, by direct debit is suggested periodically by members of the public. There are already many payment channels available to motorists to pay vehicle excise duty. The Government continue to keep all options for payment methods under review.

Official Cars

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2011, Official Report, columns 30-32WS, on ministerial cars, how many cars were transferred from the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to the Metropolitan police (close protection) in the period covered by the statement; and how much was spent in cash terms in the same period on non-GCDA travel including hire cars and taxis.

Michael Penning: holding answer 23 January 2012
	No cars were transferred from the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the Metropolitan police (close protection) during the time period covered by the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012.
	No information is held by the Government Car and Despatch Agency about the cost of non-GCDA travel in taxis and hire cars.

Ports: Milford Haven

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had on a transfer of ownership of Milford Haven Port Authority to the Welsh Government.

Michael Penning: There have been no such discussions.

Railway Stations

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many railway stations were closed because they were within one mile of another station offering a similar service in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what information her Department holds on the number of railway stations in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Glasgow, (d) London and (e) Glasgow South West constituency which are within one mile of another station offering a similar service;
	(3)  how many railway stations are proposed for closure because they are within one mile of another station offering a similar service;
	(4)  how many railway stations have been (a) opened and (b) closed in each of the last 10 years.

Michael Penning: The following table lists the stations that have been opened and closed in each of the last 10 years.
	
		
			  Openings Closures 
			 2001 Howwood  
			    
			 2002 Beauly Oldham Mumphs 
			  Newcraighall Oldham Werneth 
			  Brunstane  
			    
			 2003 Edinburgh Park  
			  Chandlers Ford  
			    
			 2004  Croxley Green 
			   Watford West 
			    
			 2005 Glasshoughton Etruria 
			  Gartcosh  
			  Rhoose Cardiff International Airport  
			  Llantwit Major  
			  Kelvindale  
			  Larkhall  
			  Merryton  
			  Chatelherault  
		
	
	
		
			    
			 2006 Liverpool South Parkway Allerton 
			   Garston 
			   Silvertown 
			   North Woolwich 
			   West Ham, Canning Town, Custom House and Stratford Low Level(1) 
			    
			 2007 Coleshill Parkway King's Cross Thameslink 
			  St Pancras International  
			  Ebbsfleet International  
			  Llanharan  
			    
			 2008 Ebbw Vale Parkway Abercynon North 
			  Newbridge  
			  Risca and Pontymister  
			  Rogerstone  
			  Alloa  
			  Heathrow Terminal 5  
			  Mitcham Eastfields  
			  Llanhilleth  
			  Crosskeys  
			  Shepherds Bush  
			  Aylesbury Vale Parkway  
			    
			 2009 East Midlands Parkway  
			  Corby  
			  Laurencekirk  
			  Imperial Wharf  
			  Stratford International  
			    
			 2010 Bathgate Drumgelloch(2) 
			   Bathgate(2) 
			    
			 2011 Buckshaw Village  
			  Southend Airport  
			  Drumgelloch  
			 (1) National Rail platforms closed as part of the new DLR line from Stratford International to Canning Town. (2) Station relocated. 
		
	
	Allerton, Garston, King's Cross Thameslink and Abercynon North were all closed because they were within one mile of another station offering a similar service.
	There are currently no proposals to close a station in England or Wales because it is within one mile of another station offering a similar service. Transport Scotland is responsible for the closure of stations in Scotland.
	The Department does not hold information on the number of stations which are within one mile of another station offering a similar service.

Railways: Overcrowding

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of trains running from stations in Woking constituency to London Waterloo were classed as overcrowded during (a) peak and (b) non- peak times in each of the last three years.

Michael Penning: Train operators carry out counts of the number of passengers on their services and provide the Department for Transport with an average for each service that represents the number of passengers on the train at its most crowded point on a "typical" weekday during school term time.
	The following table shows the number and proportion of morning peak services running from stations in the Woking constituency to London Waterloo that, on a typical weekday in the autumn in each of the last three years, had a higher number of standard class passengers than their planned capacity.
	
		
			 Train services running from stations in the Woking constituency to London Waterloo in the morning peak operating above capacity on a typical weekday 
			  Services operating above capacity 
			 Autumn Total services Number Percentage 
			 2008 50 19 38 
			 2009 50 17 34 
			 2010 50 26 52 
			 Note: The table includes all services that call at a station within the Woking constituency and arrive at London Waterloo during the morning peak (07:00-09:59). Stations in the Woking constituency are: Brookwood, Wanborough, West Byfleet, Woking and Worplesdon. Source: South West Trains passenger count data. 
		
	
	The figures are based on the number of passengers at a service's busiest point, which will not necessarily be in the Woking constituency. Some trains call at up to six other stations between the Woking constituency and London Waterloo and the busiest point will usually be closer to London for these services.
	The Department does not hold information about crowding on off-peak services in autumn 2008 and 2009. The Department holds some information about crowding on off-peak services in autumn 2010; this shows little overcrowding on services from the Woking constituency to London Waterloo.

Railways: Scotland

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse will be of new sleeper carriages for the Caledonian Sleeper service in each of the remaining years of the comprehensive spending review period.

Michael Penning: holding answer 19 January 2012
	The Caledonian Sleeper service is a devolved matter for Transport Scotland.

Roads: Accidents

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many road traffic accidents were caused by drivers who had made an incorrect declaration of their medical condition in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what proportion of fatal road accidents were caused by drivers diagnosed with a medical condition which was (a) not declared to the DVLA and (b) declared to the DVLA but the driver's licence was not withdrawn in the last year.

Michael Penning: The information requested is not available. The STATS19 system used to collect reported personal injury road accident data does not include driving licence information.
	However, Table RAS50001, in the DFT publication ‘Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: annual report 2010’ shows the number and proportion of reported personal injury road accidents which had “uncorrected, defective eyesight” or “illness or disability, mental or physical” recorded as a contributory factor, in Great Britain in 2010. It is not known if the conditions relating to these contributory factors were diagnosed medical conditions or whether they were declared to the DVLA. Table RAS50001 can be found using the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ras50001/
	Note that contributory factors are reported only for injury road accidents where a police officer attended the scene and reported at least one contributory factor. These factors are largely subjective, reflecting the attending officer's opinion at the time of reporting. It is recognised that subsequent inquires could lead to the reporting officer changing their opinion.

South Wales Railway Line: Electrification

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is of (a) electrifying the Great Western main line railway to Cardiff and (b) electrifying the line between Cardiff and Swansea in each year of (i) the comprehensive spending review period and (ii) the subsequent spending review period.

Michael Penning: holding answer 30 January 2012
	Network Rail estimates that the cost of electrification to Cardiff is £704 million at initial stages of development with a further £62 million for Cardiff to Swansea. In year 2012-13, Network Rail estimated that it would spend £43 million, followed by £121.5 million in 2013-14, £196.3 million in 2014-15, £220.1 million in 2015-16, £150.2 million in 2016-17 and £15 million in 2017-18.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution her Department is making to implementation of the Compact with the voluntary sector; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport signed up to the renewed Compact published in December 2010.
	Over the last year, the Department has taken a number of actions to ensure the Compact is being implemented. It has:
	nominated a civil society liaison officer who is responsible for day to day promotion and management of Compact implementation;
	worked with others across Government to promote the Compact principles and been engaged in working with voluntary, community and social enterprise sector bodies (VCSEs) to help them provide transport services;
	promoted the Compact to successful bidders for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, drawing attention to the flexibilities it provides for advance payments to civil society organisations; and
	participated in the NAO’s review of the National Compact implementation.

Transport: Expenditure

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much her Department spent on transport per head of population in each region of England in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much her Department spent on transport in each region in England in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The requested information can be found in the Department’s annual report and accounts for 2010-11, tables 6 and 7 (page 44) at:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc09/0972/0972.pdf

WALES

Bus Services: Finance

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with Welsh Ministers on the reduction in the Bus Service Operators Grant in Wales; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have had no discussions with Welsh Ministers on the reduction in the Bus Service Operators Grant in Wales, as it is a matter for the Welsh Government to set both the policy and funding for this scheme.
	I am disappointed by reports that local authorities and bus companies were not given the same length of time, 18 months, to plan for the proposed cuts as their counterparts in England, and I will raise this matter with the Welsh Government's Local Government and Communities Minister. I understand that the current level of funding for this discretionary grant scheme will remain at £17 million per annum for two years to help make the transition to the new arrangements.

Departmental Billing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of her Department's invoices from its private sector suppliers were paid (a) within 14 days, (b) between 15 and 30 days, (c) between 31 and 60 days, (d) between 61 and 90 days and (e) more than 90 days after receipt in the last 12 months.

David Jones: The Wales Office paid 99.575%. of all invoices within 14 days, and 0.425% of invoices between 15 and 30 days. Our records are not kept in a form that enables us to differentiate between types of suppliers.

Departmental Buildings

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) cost of (i) lease and (ii) rates and (b) running costs were of the Wales Office Discovery House office in Cardiff Bay for the last year.

David Jones: The Wales Office has leased space in Discovery House since March 2003. In the 2010-11 financial year, £179,095.67 was paid in rent and service charges, and £40,368.30 for rates. The service charge levied included the cost of utilities and services such as security and waste disposal. Running costs not included within the service charge amounted to £22,074.96.

Departmental Recruitment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department spent on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search agencies in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

David Jones: All recruitment is co-ordinated by the Ministry of Justice at no cost to the Wales Office. As there continues to be a recruitment freeze across Government, there have not been any associated costs for advertising during the period either, nor have we used any executive search agencies.

Departmental Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many away days her Department has held since May 2010; what the location was of each such away day; how many staff attended; and what the cost was of each such event.

David Jones: No away days have been held in the period.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crime: Disability

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Attorney-General how many people the Crown Prosecution Service prosecuted for hate crimes against disabled people in 2011.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Case Management Information System shows that 677 defendants were prosecuted for disability hate crimes in 2011.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Attorney-General how many jobs in the Law Officers' Departments were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Dominic Grieve: The Law Officers' Department have not transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.

EDUCATION

Academies

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what responsibility Academy schools without post-16 provision will have to ensure their graduating students remain in full-time education when the school leaving age rises; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: We are raising the age until which all young people must participate in education or training to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015.
	All schools, including Academies, have a key role in supporting young people to make a successful transition to positive outcomes post-16. To encourage them to fulfil this role, we plan to publish the education destinations of pupils from Key Stage 4 for all mainstream schools, including Academies, for the first time in May 2012.
	From September, schools will be placed under a duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for their pupils. The guidance must include information on the full range of 16-18 education and training options. Statutory guidance will set expectations about the type and quality of support schools should offer under the new duty.

Academies: Lambeth

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has any plans to require the conversion of a school to an academy in Lambeth; and whether his Department has had any contact with (a) Lambeth local authority or (b) any Lambeth schools to discuss requiring the conversion of a school to an academy.

Nick Gibb: We have been clear that we consider Academy status to be the best way to improve schools that are consistently underperforming. Our officials have held discussions with Lambeth local authority about their underperforming schools. These discussions have focussed on schools where results and prior attainment indicates a school has performed below the floor standard for two or more years. Where it is deemed appropriate, officials will continue these discussions with the LA.

Children: Protection

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  when he plans to (a) roll out new training materials and (b) re-examine statutory guidelines for professionals and practitioners working with neglected children;
	(2)  when he plans to implement the recommendations of the Munro Review on tackling the neglect of children; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to tackle child neglect; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: On 13 December, I gave an update to Parliament on progress being made across the range of commitments in the Government response to the Munro Review, which was published in July 2011.
	This set out the good progress being made across the full range of commitments, including current work to revise statutory guidance “Working Together to Safeguard Children” and the “Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families”, which will be the subject of a formal consultation from early 2012.
	Through revisions to the statutory guidance we are planning to free social workers from unnecessary bureaucracy and reduce statutory guidance so they have more time and space for better quality work with children and families.
	Evidence shows the earlier that help is given to vulnerable children and families, the more chance there is of turning lives around and protecting children from harm. The Government's vision is for a child centred system which includes providing effective help when a problem arises at any stage in a child's life. We are continuing to work with the Association of Directors of Children's Services, police and the NHS bodies to realise Professor Munro's vision of co-ordinated and transparent offer of early help services for children and families.
	We have also been working with Ofsted on the development of their new inspection framework and arrangements which start in May 2012. The new inspections will focus more clearly on the effectiveness of multi-agency arrangements to identify children who are suffering, or likely to suffer, harm from abuse or neglect. The new inspection framework and arrangements rightly place greater emphasis on the child's journey from needing help to receiving help and on professional practice and judgment.
	The Department has commissioned Action for Children and the university of Stirling to produce training materials to help equip the workforce to respond effectively to children who are likely to be, or have been, neglected. These will be published in the spring.
	The Government's approach to the reform of the child protection system is driven by three key principles: trusting skilled frontline professionals to use their professional judgment; reducing bureaucracy and prescription to give professionals more time and space to work directly with children and families; and, above all, being child-centred.
	Our aim, working in partnership with the sector, is to create the conditions for sustained, long term reform which enables and inspires professionals to do their best for vulnerable children and their families.

Children: Protection

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Health and (b) Communities and Local Government on updating the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment framework to include the numbers of children in need in the core data set.

Tim Loughton: There have been no discussions at ministerial level specifically on the core data set, but our officials have been working closely with the Department of Health on revised statutory guidance on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. In addition, we are contributing to a programme of work with the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government on a revised suite of local and national performance information to drive improvements in children's safeguarding. We are currently consulting on whether to include data from the children in need census, such as the number of children in need. Local areas may use this data to inform their Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Tim Loughton: Neither the Department nor any of its associated agencies or non departmental public bodies transferred any staff to the private sector in 2010-11.
	Ofsted a non-ministerial Government Department, transferred 493 employees to the private sector at the end of August 2010. This is due to aspects of early years inspection and registration being outsourced to two private sector providers.

Departmental Recruitment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 799W, on departmental recruitment, what the names are of the individuals employed by his Department since May 2010 who were previously political appointees.

Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement issued by the Prime Minister, on 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 110WS:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110719/wmstext/110719m0001.htm#11071985000012

Free School Meals

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on encouraging the take-up of (a) free and (b) paid-for school meals in each of the last five years; and how much it plans to spend in each of the next five years.

Nick Gibb: The latest school lunch take-up figures published in July 2011 showed that take-up increased in primary schools by 2.7 percentage points and in secondary schools by 1.8 percentage points compared with 2009-10. Take-up of school lunches is now 44.1% in primary schools and 37.6% in secondary schools.
	The Department spent over £650 million on school food activity between 2005 and 2011, much of which will have contributed indirectly to increased take-up of school meals. This included:
	£220 million over three years from 2005/06 to 2007/08 to help schools and local authorities manage the transition to the new standards;
	£240 million from 2008/09 to 2010/11 to subsidise ingredients and other costs directly related to the cost of providing a school lunch;
	£150 million capital funding for new and improved kitchen and dining areas;
	£46 million to the School Food Trust to support local authorities and schools in meeting the school food standards and increasing the take-up of school meals.
	Departmental expenditure on school food for the current spending review period has yet to be confirmed. However, in 2011-12:
	the School Lunch Grant (£80 million) has been included in the Dedicated Schools Grant to enable the continued provision of healthy lunches
	the School Food Trust will receive £4.3 million to take forward specific tasks for the Department, including work to increase take up of free and paid for meals.

Free School Meals

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides to new academies and free schools on the provision of (a) fresh food and (b) food and drink available in vending machines.

Nick Gibb: All schools, including academies and free schools, are free to follow nutritional guidance issued by the School food Trust, which will be as relevant to academies and free schools as it is to any other school. Academies that have opened since September 2010 and all free schools are also free to follow the nutritional standards as a benchmark of good nutrition, even though they are not bound by them. The Department has not issued any guidance specifically to new academies and free schools on the provision of fresh food or food and drink available in vending machines.

Literacy: Children

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department's most recent estimate is of the number of 15-year-olds who are functionally illiterate.

Nick Gibb: “Functional illiteracy” is usually defined as an inability to read or write well enough to deal with the everyday requirements of life. We do not collect information specifically on functional illiteracy.
	In 2011, 28.6% of 15-year-olds (240,598 pupils) did not achieve English skills at Level 2—that is, GCSE English grades A*-C or the equivalent levels in functional skills, key skills or basic skills.
	Within that total, 4.8% of 15-year-olds (30,407 pupils) did not achieve English skills at Level 1—that is, GCSE English grades D-G or equivalent.

Primary Education: Lambeth

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether Lambeth local authority has been designated for urgent collaboration with his Department with the aim of improving local primary schools; and which primary schools in Lambeth have been designated by his Department as requiring particular improvement.

Nick Gibb: All local authorities are expected to work with the Department if any of its schools fails to offer pupils a good standard of education. This is particularly the case where a school's attainment history suggests that it has consistently performed below the relevant floor standard. Lambeth local authority will be required to work with our officials if any of its schools fall into this category.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children qualified for the pupil premium in High Peak constituency in the last year for which figures are available.

Sarah Teather: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and allocations have so far been made for the 2011-12 financial year. Pupil premium funding is provided in respect of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months and children whose parents are serving in the armed forces.
	In the High Peak constituency there were 1,370 pupils on the January 2011 school censuses recorded as known to be eligible for FSM or recorded as service children who have received the pupil premium to date. The total number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium in the High Peak constituency may be higher, but it is not possible to identify the number of pupils in each parliamentary constituency recorded as being in care or recorded in the alternative provision census as, in both cases, the returns are provided at local authority level rather than at establishment level.

Schools

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much and what proportion of the increase in spending on school buildings will be allocated to schools in (a) Dartford constituency and (b) Kent.

Nick Gibb: As announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement, the Department for Education has been allocated £600 million to support the provision of pupil places and £600 million to support the expansion of the free schools programme. Departmental officials are considering how best to allocate the additional basic need funding and announcements on specific allocations will be made in due course.

Schools: Inspections

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to allowing (a) early years and (b) child care settings to commission Ofsted re-inspections following a rating of satisfactory or inadequate.

Sarah Teather: We are considering with Ofsted a range of options to improve the effectiveness and appropriateness of inspection, along with ways of ensuring that parents have good and up to date information on the quality of early years settings.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bahrain: Politics and Government

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on allegations of use of tear gas in towns and villages in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: We are concerned by the increased level of violence on the streets and are aware that the Bahraini police forces are using tear gas to disperse crowds. We call on all those carrying out violent attacks to stop; and call on the police to exercise all possible restraint in their handling of public order situations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cultural Heritage

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina on state funding of national heritage institutions.

David Lidington: The United Kingdom has made clear, both privately and publicly, its concern that the functioning of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the fulfilment of BiH's international obligations have been threatened by the failure to date to adopt a state-level budget for 2011 or 2012. Heritage institutions have been particularly affected and a number of institutions have been forced to close. We continue to urge the responsible political authorities to take action.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

David Lidington: The United Kingdom continues to work closely with the Office of the High Representative and to give its full support to the High Representative Valentin Inzko. I last met Mr Inzko on 2 February 2012. The Office of the High Representative is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the civilian aspects of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (the ‘Dayton’ Agreement) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and works closely with people and institutions of BiH, the European Union and the rest of the International Community. The Peace Implementation Council has set clear conditions which need to be completed by BiH before the Office of the High Representative can be closed. These conditions have yet to be met.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

David Lidington: The security environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) remains broadly calm and stable. We welcome recent progress towards the formation of a new state-level Council of Ministers, and steps towards important EU-related reforms. However, continued nationalist rhetoric, lack of reform progress and the poor economic situation remain concerns. We cannot exclude the possibility that mounting political challenges, if not resolved, might impact on the security situation.
	The United Kingdom remains resolutely committed to BiH as a sovereign, stable country with functioning state-level institutions, irreversibly on the path to EU and NATO membership. We will continue carefully to monitor the situation in BiH and to work with both BiH and other international partners to promote stability and security.
	The executive mandate of the EU military peacekeeping mission, EUFOR Operation Althea, remains an important safeguard of stability, as does the High Representative’s civilian executive mandate.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the agreement between the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats to form a government.

David Lidington: The British Government welcome the recent agreement, made by the leaders of the six major political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), on the formation of a state-level government. We also welcome the recent progress towards appointment of the BiH Council of Ministers and look forward to the Council being sworn in as soon as possible.
	As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), set out in his statement on 13 January, it is now down to all parties in BiH to work together to address other outstanding issues, including the adoption of the state budget for 2011 and 2012, and to make the reforms necessary to move BiH towards a secure and prosperous future in the European Union.

China: Animal Welfare

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government on the illegal trade in ivory and endangered species.

Jeremy Browne: I recently wrote to the Chinese ambassador raising our concerns about animal welfare and conservation of endangered species in China.
	Tackling illegal trade in endangered species is one of the key purposes of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). The lead department in the UK for CITES is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). DEFRA officials regularly meet other parties to the convention to discuss the species that need protection and how to monitor and regulate trade in these species.
	China is a party to CITES.

Christmas

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) Christmas trees and (b) other Christmas decorations in 2011; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Three Christmas trees were donated to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the three main office sites by Facilities Management Client Unit (FMCU) contractors (Compass, Interserve and G4S) at no cost to the FCO. The provision of any costs for our overseas posts could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
	Government Hospitality provides corporate hospitality services for the whole of Government, based at Lancaster House. Lancaster House is used both for government business hospitality and commercial hire to fee paying private clients. In 2011 Government Hospitality spent £2,250 (excluding VAT) on a decorated tree at Lancaster House to support the commercial hire of this facility. To correct the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) to my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 954W, Government Hospitality spent £1,300 (excluding VAT) on Christmas trees in 2010-11.

Deloitte

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts for his Department have been awarded to Deloitte and its associates since May 2010; and what the (a) net and (b) individual value was of each such contract.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not placed any contracts with Deloitte in the UK since May 2010.
	Procurement activity overseas is devolved to our network of over 260 posts across 170 countries; the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo for what reason provincial elections were postponed indefinitely in that country.

Henry Bellingham: Provincial assembly elections are scheduled to take place in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in March, We expect that they will be delayed until later in the year because the DRC electoral commission (CENI) has been focused on the presidential and legislative elections. We will press for provincial elections to be held this year and will insist that any delay is used to learn lessons from the presidential and legislative elections and take corrective measures to ensure a more credible process.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Henry Bellingham: Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nor its non-departmental bodies transferred UK based jobs to the private sector during financial year 2010-11. However, during this period a number of locally engaged jobs were outsourced. These transfers occurred as part of a major efficiency programme which sought the most cost-effective method of providing support services at our overseas Posts. As Posts have delegated authority to make these management decisions, full details of staff changes are not held centrally and are available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether his Department has any other arrangements for ministerial travel; and how much his Department has spent on (a) private hire vehicles and (b) taxis for each Minister since May 2010.

David Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have not used private hire or taxis on official business since May 2010. During this period, transport has been provided through FCO Services or the Government Car Service. Section 10 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance on travel for Ministers and makes clear that Ministers must ensure that they always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

Diplomatic Service: Languages

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 969W, on Diplomatic Service: languages, how many of his Department's staff in each country of service are in receipt of additional remuneration as a result of holding (a) CEFR level two, (b) CEFR level one and (c) CEFR level A2 language qualification.

Henry Bellingham: All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) language exams are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. To correct the reply given to my hon. Friend on 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 758W, the number of FCO staff in receipt of additional remuneration as a result of holding (a) CEFR level C2 (FCO Extensive), (b) CEFR level CI (FCO Operational) and (c) CEFR Level A2 (FCO Confidence) language qualification is as follows (by country, post or office).
	
		
			  Extensive Operational Confidence 
			 Afghanistan — 1 — 
			 Algeria 1 — — 
			 Angola — — 1 
			 Argentina 2 4 — 
			 Austria 1 2 — 
			 Belgium 3 5 — 
			 Bolivia — 1 — 
			 Bosnia — 1 — 
			 Brazil 2 7 — 
			 Canada — — 1 
			 Chile — 2 — 
		
	
	
		
			 China 2 9 3 
			 Colombia — 5 — 
			 Cyprus 1 1 — 
			 Czech Republic — 2 — 
			 Denmark — 1 — 
			 Ecuador 1 — — 
			 El Salvador — 1 — 
			 Ethiopia — 2 1 
			 Finland — 1 1 
			 France 6 7 — 
			 Georgia — 1 — 
			 Germany 5 1 — 
			 Gibraltar 1 — — 
			 Greece 1 3 — 
			 Guatemala — 2 — 
			 Haiti 1 1 — 
			 Hungary 1 — — 
			 India — 1 — 
			 Indonesia — 2 — 
			 Iraq — 3 — 
			 Israel — 2 1 
			 Occupied Palestinian Territories—Jerusalem — 2 — 
			 Italy 1 4 — 
			 Japan 1 8 — 
			 Jordan — 4 — 
			 Kazakhstan — 1 1 
			 Kenya 1 — — 
			 Kosovo — 1 — 
			 Kyrgyzstan — 1 — 
			 Lebanon — 2 — 
			 Libya — 2 — 
			 Mauritius 1 — — 
			 Mexico 1 3 — 
			 Morocco 2 2 — 
			 Mozambique — 2 — 
			 Nigeria 1 — — 
			 Netherlands — 2 — 
			 North Korea — — 1 
			 Oman — 1 — 
			 Pakistan — 1 — 
			 Peru 1 — — 
			 Poland 1 1 — 
			 Portugal — 2 — 
			 Qatar — 1 — 
			 Romania — 2 — 
			 Russia 1 5 — 
			 Saudi Arabia 1 — — 
			 Senegal — 2 — 
			 Serbia — 2 — 
			 Slovenia — 1 — 
			 Spain — 2 — 
			 South Korea — 1 — 
			 Sudan — 1 — 
			 Sweden — 2 — 
			 Switzerland — 6 2 
			 Syria 2 1 — 
			 Taiwan — 2 — 
			 Tajikistan 1 — — 
			 Thailand — 2 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Tunisia 1 — — 
			 Turkey 1 1 — 
			 United Arab Emirates — 1 1 
			 Ukraine 1 1 — 
			 Unites States of America — 2 — 
			 Uruguay — 2 — 
			 Uzbekistan — 1 — 
			 Venezuela 1 — — 
			 Vietnam — 1 1 
			 Yemen 1 — — 
			  48 145 15

Diplomatic Service: Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the staff working in UK (a) embassies, (b) high commissions and (c) consulates were (i) UK-based and (ii) locally-engaged in (A) 1991, (B) 2001 and (C) 2011.

Henry Bellingham: At 1 January 2012 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had 1,843 UK-based staff working overseas and 8,689 locally engaged staff, representing 17.5% and 82.5% of total overseas staffing of 10,532 respectively.
	We do not record staff details by embassy, high commission and consulate and the information could be prepared only at disproportionate cost.
	Data for 1991 and 2001 are not held on the same basis.

Falkland Islands

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he received from the Government of Brazil during his recent visit to that country in respect of its policy on Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

Jeremy Browne: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), was clear during his recent visit to Brazil and in discussions with Foreign Minister Patriota, that while we might have different views on certain issues, these did not justify support for measures aimed at damaging the economy of a small island community. The Foreign Secretary was assured that Brazil has no intention of participating in any Argentine attempts to blockade the people of the Falkland Islands. All Falklands—related shipping flying the British Red Ensign will continue to enjoy access to Brazilian ports.

Gibraltar: Sovereignty

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy that co-sovereignty will not be part of the future political architecture for Gibraltar.

David Lidington: The UK’s position on sovereignty is well known and has not changed.
	The UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their wishes. Furthermore, the UK will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.

Lost Property

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what items have been lost by his Department in each of the last two years.

David Lidington: The information required is not held centrally, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) complies with the mandatory requirements of the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework which covers all areas of security, including technical, physical, procedural and personnel security. The Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework is published on the Cabinet Office website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	All FCO staff have a responsibility to look after electronic devices property and manage personal data effectively and securely in line with those policies and procedures.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the rate of settlement building by Israeli citizens in the west bank.

Alistair Burt: Continued systematic settlement construction by Israel in disputed territory in the Occupied Palestinian Territory makes it ever harder to achieve the common goal of international efforts: a contiguous state of Palestine side-by-side with a secure Israel, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. The latest surge since the end of the last moratorium is unprecedented in the last 20 years, with approval of new tenders up by 50%. During 2011, twice as much housing construction has taken place in the west bank settlements as in Israel.
	During my recent visit to the region on 7-11 January 2012, I raised strong concerns over the significant numbers of settlement announcements with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and the impact these are having on the prospects for a two state solution. The Prime Minister raised this issue with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 5 January. The Deputy Prime Minister commented in strong terms on settlement expansion at his joint press conference with Palestinian President Abbas on 16 January.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the level of threat of rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.

Alistair Burt: We remain concerned about continued indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza as well as targeted attacks by the Israeli military.
	Most recently, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) informed our embassy in Tel Aviv that nine rockets were fired from Gaza into the Negev region of Israel on 1 February. All the rockets landed in open ground and there are no reports of injury, or damage.
	Our officials assess this to be a continuation of a consistent pattern of sporadic rocket fire from Gaza and pre-emptive/retaliatory IDF targeted attacks. We judge that the risk of serious escalation is currently relatively low. But there is a residual risk that an attack causing a significant number of casualties could provoke a significant escalation. We are continuing to monitor the situation and report as necessary.

Olympic Games 2012

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: No invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympic Games have been accepted by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), other Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers or senior officials in the FCO.

Prisoners: Children

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the treatment of child prisoners by the Government of Israel.

Alistair Burt: The UK remains concerned about the treatment of child prisoners in Israel. We regularly discuss these concerns with the Israeli authorities. I most recently raised the issue of child detainees with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon on 18 January as well as with the Israeli ambassador to London.
	We welcomed the 4 October decision by the Israeli Government to raise the age of legal majority for Palestinian children in the Israeli military justice system. When fully implemented, this will be an important step towards protecting children's rights in the west bank. We continue to lobby for further improvements, including a reduction in the number of arrests that occur at night and the introduction of audio-visual recording of interrogations.
	The UK has also funded a number of projects aimed at improving the impact of the conflict on Palestinian children, including those in detention.
	Our officials at the British embassy in Tel Aviv continue to discuss the treatment of child prisoners with the Israeli Government.

Theft

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what items have been stolen from his Department's offices and staff (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in each of the last two years.

David Lidington: The information required is not held centrally, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) complies with the mandatory requirements of the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework which covers all areas of security, including technical, physical, procedural and personnel security. The Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework is published on the Cabinet Office website at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	All FCO staff have a responsibility to look after electronic devices property and manage personal data effectively and securely in line with those policies and procedures.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which programmes aimed at tackling diabetes in Bangladesh his Department funds.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports research and tracking of diabetes through a renowned health research organisation in Bangladesh, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR.B) as well as supporting the public health system's effort to address the disease. In the latter, DFID provides support (financial and technical) to the national Health Sector Programme implemented by Government (£120 million, 2012-2016). In this programme priority is given to the training of health staff in screening and diagnosis; strengthening hospital treatment for severe cases and, as many people have been unaware of the existence of the disease, mass media campaigns on early signs and preventative measures.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Drugs

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will have discussions with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the assessment by Médecins Sans Frontières that thousands of people will die in that country waiting for life saving drugs which are ready to be supplied.

Stephen O'Brien: The recent press release by Médecins Sans Frontières raises two separate issues about the Global Fund, which they say is the largest supplier of antiretroviral drugs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Firstly, donors are reducing their support to the fund, secondly, this threatens the lives of people in DRC.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) continues to be a major supporter of the Global Fund which is achieving significant results globally, and we want all donors to live up to their commitments. The UK is also ready to increase its support to the fund in order to help meet its targets. The extent to which the fund is able to take forward its current reform programme will clearly be a key factor in the UK’s decisions on future funding.
	With regard to the DRC, the Global Fund’s financial support has been suspended following allegations of irregularities in the management of funds. Discussions are ongoing between the Global Fund Secretariat and the DRC’s Ministry of Health, in an attempt to ensure continued funding for the procurement of life saving antiretroviral drugs.
	DFID remains committed to tackling HIV/AIDS in DRC. The current Access to Healthcare programme supports health care for 2.4 million people in four of the 11 provinces and includes provision of PMTCT services (prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV).

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will raise with the African Union the (a) conduct of the recent elections and (b) decision to delay indefinitely Provincial elections scheduled for March 2012 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Stephen O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), did not have the opportunity to discuss the Democratic Republic of Congo elections during the AU summit, which was focused on other issues. He did not have the opportunity to have any bilateral meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	We remain concerned about reports of irregularities during the electoral process and have repeatedly called for all allegations of fraud, election-related violence and intimidation to be investigated with the utmost seriousness. We await the final reports of international election observation missions, including the European Union and Carter Center missions.
	Provincial assembly elections are scheduled to take place in DRC in March. We expect that they will be delayed until later in the year because the DRC electoral commission (CENI) is currently focused on delivering the final results in the National Assembly elections, and because registration of provincial candidates has been postponed in the meantime. We will press for provincial elections to be held this year and will insist that any delay is used to learn lessons from the presidential and legislative elections and take corrective measures to ensure a more credible process going forward.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development has not transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11, from either (a) the Department or (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which we are responsible.

Developing Countries: Water

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to ensure that the outcome of the high level meeting on Sanitation and Water for All on 26 April 2012 accelerates progress in providing sanitation and water to the world’s poor.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the work of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership to increase accountability of both developing countries and donors for delivering results on the ground. We recognise that it will be important to have a strong UK presence at the next high level meeting in April 2012. The UK will continue to provide support and guidance for the Sanitation and Water for All partnership, as it has done since its inception.
	The challenge of providing safe water and sanitation to those who presently do not have these most basic of services remains a high priority for the British Government. DFID officials are in discussion with our international partners ahead of the April meeting in order to plan how to ensure that it is a success.

East Africa: Overseas Aid

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expenditure over £50,000 has been made by multilateral organisations to which the UK is a donor for international development work in (a) Sudan, (b) Malawi and (c) Zambia in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12 to date, what the name was of each recipient; and what work was carried out.

Stephen O'Brien: The Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides the following figures for expenditure (disbursements) by multilateral organisations in Malawi, Sudan and Zambia in 2010 (the latest year for which figures are available).
	
		
			 US $ million 
			 Multilateral organisation Malawi Sudan Zambia 
			 African Development Bank 41.42 1.88 55.31 
			 European Commission 208.33 284.17 92.53 
			 Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) 8.21 25.52 7.76 
			 Global Environment Facility 0 3.75 0 
			 Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria 49.82 75.22 40.96 
			 World Bank International Development Association 131.37 0 33.45 
			 International Fund for Agricultural Development 3.75 7.65 1.71 
			 International Monetary Fund 21.18 0 55.29 
			 UNAIDS 0.87 0.93 0.95 
			 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 8.59 8.73 6.04 
			 United Nations Population Fund 10.48 15.15 5.04 
			 United Nations High Commission for Refugees 0.75 0 2.39 
			 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 9.85 22.8 8.99 
			 World Food Programme 4.41 2.28 8.05 
		
	
	Following the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan in November 2011, all multilateral organisations have committed to achieving a high level of transparency. Many of the key multilateral organisations, including the European Commission, the World Bank and the Global Fund already publish project level data to International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) standards, with full project documentation and financial data. A table showing information currently available for Malawi, Sudan and Zambia has been posted with the House Library. This information will become more comprehensive over time, as further multilateral organisations implement IATI standards or equivalent.

Post Codes

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department uses postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail.

Alan Duncan: No.

Somalia: Politics and Government

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: On 28 March, the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), visited Doolow in southern Somalia and saw for himself the situation and the difference British aid is making. The latest United Nations assessment indicates that famine conditions no longer exist and the number of people in crisis has reduced from 4 million to 2.34 million. This improvement is a result of the uplift of aid, including by Britain, and good rains, harvests and lowering food prices. However, some 325,000 children remain acutely malnourished and large scale humanitarian needs will continue during 2012. Aid agencies are facing increasing access challenges and the fragile improvement could be undermined if aid does not continue to flow.
	My Department will therefore provide a further £55 million in 2012 to reach more than one million vulnerable Somalis with nutrition, health, water, food or support to their livelihoods. We will also be using the London Conference on Somalia on 23 February to draw attention to the situation, and urge other donors to contribute further.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department made to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in 2011; and what contribution it plans to make in 2012.

Stephen O'Brien: In 2011, the Department for International Development provided around £2 million to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, through the Governance and Transparency Fund, to work in Georgia, Lebanon, Mozambique, Uganda, Ukraine and Yemen and the Arab Partnership Fund, to work in Egypt and Tunisia.
	DFID is currently in discussions with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy about options for future support.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria his Department used to determine the level of aid to Yemen in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID) bilateral expenditure in Yemen was £51.1 million in the financial year 2010-11, the most recent period for which figures are available. This figure is taken from 'Statistics in Development 2011' published on the DFID website.
	DFID's country programme allocation for Yemen for the year 2010-11 was based on the Department's assessment of the level of funding required to support the UK Government's cross-departmental strategy for Yemen. This sought to achieve a more stable, secure and economically sustainable Yemen. It also fulfilled a target set in agreeing the Development Partnership Arrangement with the Government of Yemen. Our aid in 2010-11 focused on the delivery of basic services such as health, education and water; stimulating economic growth; and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Finance

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 193W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: finance, and with reference to page 34 of the EHRC’s response to the Government consultation on building a fairer Britain, whether the Government Equalities Office has changed the planned cumulative changes to the EHRC budget.

Lynne Featherstone: Following the Government’s spending review, we announced in October 2010 that we will be reducing the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) budget by over half, from £55 million in 2010-11 to £26 million in 2014-15. We are in the process of finalising the EHRC’s budget for 2012-13. The EHRC’s budget allocations for 2013-14 and beyond have not been set.
	In March 2011, we set out plans to reform the EHRC; we will respond to the consultation shortly.

CABINET OFFICE

Armed Forces: Cabinet Committees

Jim Murphy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times the Cabinet Committee on forces welfare, announced on 19 December 2011, has met; and if he will publish the agenda for each such meeting.

Oliver Letwin: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet, details of agendas and which Ministers have attended, is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Birth Certificates

Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many birth certificates were registered without a father’s name in each of the last 30 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the number of birth certificates that were registered without a father’s name in each of the last 30 years (93864).
	The number of sole registered live births in England and Wales (births registered by the mother alone, where information on the father was not recorded) are published annually on the ONS website. Table 2 of the Characteristics of mother 1 births package provides the number of sole registered live births in England and Wales, for each year 1978-2010 and is available at:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/characteristics-of-Mother-1--england-and-wales/2010/rft-characteristics-of-mother-1--england-and-wales.xls

Central Office of Information: Closures

David Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what savings he expects to be realised from the closure of the Central Office of Information;
	(2)  if he will publish the business case for the closure of the Central Office of Information.

Francis Maude: The closure of the Central Office of Information (COI) is part of a programme to reform government communications as a whole. This builds on the success of the moratorium on marketing and advertising, which saw external spend through COI fall from £532 million in 2009-10 to £168 million in 2010-11 and central Government Departments cut their communications budgets by half. These reductions in spending mean that COI is no longer viable as a trading fund.
	The decision on the full package of reforms was made on the basis of the information contained in the former Permanent Secretary for Government Communications “Review of Government Direct Communication and the Role of COI” and the Government's response to this report.
	These changes will lead to cost savings in Government Departments; who will work together more closely, align activity and share resources.

Deaths: Alcoholic Drinks

Toby Perkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many alcohol-related deaths there were in (a) Chesterfield constituency, (b) Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Trust, (c) Derbyshire and (d) England in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many alcohol-related deaths there were in (a) Chesterfield constituency, (b) Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Trust, (c) Derbyshire and (d) England in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. (93818)
	Table 1 attached provides the number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in (a) Chesterfield parliamentary constituency, (c) Derbyshire county and (d) England, for 2009 and 2010 (the latest year available). The National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths only includes those causes regarded as being most directly due to alcohol consumption, as shown in Box 1 below.
	It is not possible to provide the number of alcohol-related deaths for (b) Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Trust as the information collected at death registration does not distinguish between the organisations managerially responsible for the patient's care. Although the name and address of the hospital where the death occurred is recorded at registration, the services provide at a single hospital site may be managed by several NHS Trusts or private contractors.
	Figures are provided for calendar years (January to December) to be consistent with routine mortality outputs.
	Alcohol-related death figures for the UK, England and Wales, and Regions in England, for 1991 to 2010 are available on the ONS website at the following link: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-29395
	
		
			 Box 1: National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths 
			 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes 
			 F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 
			 G31.2 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol 
			 G62.1 Alcoholic polyneuropathy 
			 I42.6 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy 
			 K29.2 Alcoholic gastritis 
			 K70 Alcoholic liver disease 
			 K73 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified 
			 K74 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (Excluding K74.3-K74.5—Biliary cirrhosis) 
			 K86.0 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis 
			 X45 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol 
			 X65 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol 
			 Y15 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths where an alcohol-related cause was the underlying cause of death, Chesterfield parliamentary constituency, Derbyshire county, and England 2009 to 2010 (1, 2, 3, 4) 
			 Deaths (persons) 
			 Area 2009 2010 
			 Chesterfield parliamentary constituency 17 12 
			 Derbyshire county 92 93 
			 England 6,582 6,669 
			 (1 )Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific conditions which are included in the National Statistics definition of alcohol-related deaths, and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, are shown in Box 1 above. (2 )Deaths were included where an alcohol-related cause was the underlying cause of death. (3 )Figures exclude deaths of non-residents. (4 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Food

Neil Parish: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of food purchased by his Department was produced in the UK in each of the last five years.

Francis Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies) on 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1047W.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Francis Maude: There have been 19 jobs transferred to the private sector during the financial year 2010-11 from Cabinet Office including its agencies and non-departmental bodies.

Electoral Register: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people in each parliamentary constituency in London registered to vote and resident abroad.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of how many people in each Parliamentary constituency in London are registered to vote and resident abroad. (93879)
	Table 1 shows the number of overseas electors registered to vote in each Parliamentary constituency in London on 1 December 2010. 2010 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Registered overseas parliamentary electors for each parliamentary constituency in London, parliamentary constituencies (1) 
			 Parliamentary constituency Overseas electors, 1 December 2010 
			 Barking 5 
			 Battersea 251 
			 Beckenham 60 
			 Bermondsey and Old Southwark 141 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 108 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 26 
			 Brent Central 50 
			 Brent North 46 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 129 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 69 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 79 
			 Carshalton and Wallington 47 
			 Chelsea and Fulham 259 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 31 
			 Chipping Barnet 18 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 216 
			 Croydon Central 77 
			 Croydon North 32 
			 Croydon South 97 
		
	
	
		
			 Dagenham and Rainham 9 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 98 
			 Ealing Central and Acton 201 
			 Ealing North 34 
			 Ealing, Southall 38 
			 East Ham 27 
			 Edmonton 15 
			 Eltham 47 
			 Enfield North 17 
			 Enfield, Southgate 38 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 35 
			 Feltham and Heston 14 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 78 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 140 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 95 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 91 
			 Hammersmith 247 
			 Hampstead and Kilburn 206 
			 Harrow East 29 
			 Harrow West 42 
			 Hayes and Harlington 17 
			 Hendon 52 
			 Holborn and St Pancras 174 
			 Hornchurch and Upminster 21 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 136 
			 Ilford North 23 
			 Ilford South 18 
			 Islington North 179 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 181 
			 Kensington 208 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 119 
			 Lewisham East 53 
			 Lewisham West and Penge 65 
			 Lewisham, Deptford 78 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 37 
			 Mitcham and Morden 27 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 25 
			 Orpington 59 
			 Poplar and Limehouse 125 
			 Putney 200 
			 Richmond Park 259 
			 Romford 42 
			 Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner 51 
			 Streatham 103 
			 Sutton and Cheam 71 
			 Tooting 202 
			 Tottenham 34 
			 Twickenham 200 
			 Uxbridge and South Ruislip 53 
			 Vauxhall 42 
			 Walthamstow 46 
			 West Ham 27 
			 Westminster North 164 
			 Wimbledon 218 
			 (1) The constituencies are the ‘new' constituencies that came into effect at the last UK general election. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Government Departments: Billing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what average time was taken by all Government departments to pay the invoices of their small business suppliers; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: This information is not held centrally.
	Nevertheless, the Government recognise that being paid promptly for work done is vital for suppliers to enable them to manage their cash flow and reduce time wasted on chasing invoices. We are determined to do everything we can to help business manage cash flow and to transform the culture of late payment.
	The Government's policy is to pay 80% of undisputed invoices within five days and to pass 30 day payment terms down supply chains by including requirements for suppliers to do so in contracts. We expect our suppliers to follow our example on prompt payment and pay their sub-contractors within the 30 day limit.

Government Departments: Buildings

Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) empty and (b) under-utilised Government-owned buildings there are in Scotland; and where such buildings are located.

Francis Maude: The Government's overall aim is to reduce our estate and exit empty space.
	21 current marketable vacant space records within Scotland have been recorded by English Central Civil Government Departments in e-PIMS (Electronic Property Information Mapping Service). Details are included within an Excel spreadsheet, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
	e-PIMS does not currently record underused space but the annual State of the Estate report to Parliament records the utilisation of space at departmental and organisation level which includes benchmarks.

Government Departments: Freedom of Information

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish his Department's guidance on private emails and the Freedom of Information Act referred to in the Education Select Committee evidence session of 31 January 2012 as having been issued to the Department for Education.

Francis Maude: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not normally disclosed.

Government Departments: Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of savings on Government procurement has resulted from (a) demand management or curtailment and (b) negotiations based on existing procurement practice in each of the last three years.

Francis Maude: Between May 2010 and March 2011 the Government reported that Departments had saved £3.75 billion in the first 10 months following May 2010, including:
	(a) Savings from demand management:
	£870 million of reductions in spend on consulting;
	Nearly £500 million saved by reducing spend on temporary agency staff;
	£400 million of reductions in marketing spend;
	£90 million reduction in the ongoing cost of the property estate by exerting better control over lease renewals.
	(b) Savings from achieving better commercial terms;
	£360 million saved by centralising spend on common goods and services;
	£800 million saved from renegotiating deals with some of the largest suppliers to Government.
	(c) Savings through applying greater scrutiny to Government projects that combine demand management and renegotiation of existing terms:
	£150 million saved from 2010/11 budgets for Government's major projects, by halting or curtailing low value or wasteful spending;
	£300 million saved by applying greater scrutiny to ICT expenditure.
	Further details can be found on the Cabinet Office website:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/francis-maude-reveals-%C2%A3375-billion-savings
	Information is not held centrally for previous years.

Government Departments: Procurement

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will require Government departments with procurement budgets to allocate 25 per cent. of their procurement funds to small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers.

Francis Maude: Government procurement policy requires that contracts be awarded to achieve value for money, through fair and open competition, in compliance with EU Treaty principles and UK Regulations implementing the EU Procurement Directives where appropriate. It would, therefore, be inappropriate to ring-fence funding for one sector of the supply base.
	Nevertheless, the Government recognise the vital role that small firms have to play in helping it to achieve the best possible value for money when it buys goods and services, and has an aspiration that 25% of Government procurement should go to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). To this end we have announced a series of measures to make it easier for SMEs to compete for Government contracts. Further information is available on the Cabinet Office website:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/government-opens-contracts-small-business

Government Departments: Procurement

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff in his Department are currently working on identifying and realising procurement-led savings.

Francis Maude: Cabinet Office work on identifying and realising procurement-led savings is carried out by the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG), which operates a flexible resourcing and development model across its core structure. This model of working allows for a more flexible working environment by allocating staff to time-bound assignments to ensure we are best able to focus our resources to deliver our priorities.
	On 1 February 2012, there were 77.1 full-time equivalents (FTE) working on procurement and commercial related projects, including those relating to procurement-led savings.

Grace and Favour Housing

Jake Berry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many grace and favour houses are allocated to each government department; how many are vacant; and how many were vacant before May 2010.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), have the use of the official residences above No. 10 and No. 11 Downing street respectively. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has the use of the residence at No. 1 Carlton Gardens. The flats at Admiralty House are unoccupied.
	Details of residences occupied and vacant under the previous Administration are available in the Libraries of the House.

Official Residences: Costs

Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to the public purse has been of (a) renovation of and (b) decoration to grace and favour properties used by Cabinet Ministers (i) between May 2005 and May 2010 and (ii) since May 2010.

Francis Maude: This information is not held centrally. Costs of residences are a matter for the occupying Minister's Department.

Redundancy

David Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many members of staff will be (a) made redundant and (b) re-deployed within his Department when the Central Office of Information is closed.

Francis Maude: The closure of the Central Office of Information (COI) means that all its staff are at risk of redundancy. The Cabinet Office is working to minimise the number of redundancies, through measures including redeployment of staff elsewhere in Government (as well as within the Cabinet Office itself). We will continue this work until COI closes at the end of March and will not know the total number of redeployments and redundancies until then.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2012, Official Report, columns 444-45W, on the third sector, how much funding each of the pilot providers received from his Department in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office publishes details of all transactions over £25,000 on a monthly basis on data.gov.uk. All the National Citizen Service pilot providers' payments for the 2012 pilots to date will be included in these data. In addition, there was a payment to the Salford Foundation for £21,186 in December 2011.

Well-being

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many surveys were conducted in connection with the development of new measures of national well-being in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many surveys are planned for (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15; and what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of conducting each survey;
	(2)  how many staff will work on the development of new measures of national well-being in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15;
	(3)  how many events have been held in connection with the development of new measures of national well-being; what the (a) location, (b) date and (c) cost was of each event; and how many events are planned for (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15;
	(4)  whether he plans to publish the results of the public consultation undertaken as part of the development of new measures of national well-being.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking:
	1. How many surveys were conducted in connection with the development of new measures of national well-being in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many surveys are planned for (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15; and what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of conducting each survey (93744).
	2. How many staff will work on the development of new measures of national well-being in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15 (93745).
	3. How many events have been held in connection with the development of new measures of national well-being; what were the (a) locations, (b) dates and (c) costs for each event; and how many events are planned for (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 (93746).
	4. Does the Minister for the Cabinet Office plan to publish the results of the public consultation undertaken as part of the development of new measures of national well-being? (93747).
	ONS have no plans to carry out new statistical surveys in the years quoted. However, ONS have added questions to the Integrated Household Survey and Opinions Survey. The cost of these questions was £466k in 2011/12 and will be £362k each year for 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15. There were no significant start up costs or survey costs in 2010/11—survey questions were introduced from April 2011.
	The aim of the Measuring National Well-being Programme is to develop and publish an accepted and trusted set of National Statistics which help people to understand and monitor national well-being. All programme staff are therefore involved in the development of new measures of national well-being, though this involvement forms part of the wider programme of work. For the period 2011/12 there were 40 posts for the Measuring National Well-being Programme. Our staffing projection for 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 is expected to be 42 posts.
	Wider programme work includes children and young people's well-being, subjective well-being, development of the national economic accounts and UK environmental accounts, analysis and reporting, international liaison and stakeholder engagement activities.
	The table relates to events held in connection with the Measuring National Well-being Programme where 'events' refers to debates, seminars or conferences. A copy of this table has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	For the period 2011/12 the Measuring National Well-being Programme held a National Debate (from 25 November 2010 to 15 April 2011). A total of 175 events were held around the country at a total cost of £31k. The full list is provided in Annex A. In addition, a seminar was held at the Royal Society of Arts in London on 10th November 2011, costing £520.00.
	The 2012/13 committed spend for a seminar with stakeholders relating to the Measuring National Well-being Programme is £2k. This is due to be held in London on 12th March 2012. The programme anticipates holding another 11 events with stakeholders between now and 2014/15. The total anticipated spend for these events is £8k.
	ONS are planning to publish an initial response to the public consultation on the development of measures of national well-being on Tuesday 28th February 20.12. The response will take the form of a written report which will highlight initial findings.
	A more considered response will be published alongside a revised set of domains and measures of national well-being in summer 2012. By this time, ONS also aim to have published online all individual responses to the consultation, where respondents have agreed for their response to be made public.

Well-being: Unemployed People

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, columns 541-2W, on well-being, whether the National Statistician has made any estimate of the effect of changes in the unemployment rate on happiness.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Jil Matheson, dated February 2012
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2011, Official Report, columns 541-2W, on well-being, whether the National Statistician has made any estimate of the effect of changes in the unemployment rate on happiness. (93738)
	I have not made any estimate of the effect of changes in the unemployment rate on happiness. However, on 1 December 2011, ONS published a research report entitled ‘Initial investigation into Subjective Well-being from the Opinions Survey’. This report includes estimates of how much subjective well-being differs for unemployed people compared with those in employment and those who are inactive.
	The report provides initial experimental estimates of subjective well-being for Great Britain from the ONS Opinions Survey and is available from the following web link:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-subjective-wellbeing-in-the-uk/investigation-of-subjective-well-being-data-from-the-ons-opinions-survey/initial-investigation-into-subjective-well-being-from-the-opinions-survey.html

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of progress made towards meeting his Department's Carbon Emissions Reduction Target obligations; and what the remaining cost will be to energy companies to meet those obligations.

Gregory Barker: The latest published report on progress by the scheme administrator Ofgem shows that, as of end September 2011, companies had completed 75% of the overall target of 293 million tonnes (lifetime) CO2. Of the sub-obligations, suppliers had met 30% of the Insulation Obligation, 82% of the Priority Group and 15% of the Super Priority Group. The next report is due to be published in early March . We do not have powers to require suppliers to disclose the cost of meeting CERT. Our best estimates set out in the associated impact assessment published at the outset.

Departmental Billing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of his Department's invoices from its private sector suppliers were paid (a) within 14 days, (b) between 15 and 30 days, (c) between 31 and 60 days, (d) between 61 and 90 days and (e) more than 90 days after receipt in the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: DECC's prompt payment statistics cover all types of suppliers including private sector suppliers. Since April 2009 the Department has published information on prompt payment on a monthly basis on its website. Since May 2010 this has shown the percentage of invoices paid within five days.
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/procurement/prompt_pay/prompt_pay.aspx
	The Department also records the percentage of invoices paid within 30 days.
	
		
			  Percentage processed within 30 days 
			 December 2011 99.7 
			 November 2011 99.8 
			 October 2011 100 
			 September 2011 95.2 
			 August 2011 99.9 
			 July 2011 100 
			 June 2011 100 
			 May 2011 99.9 
			 April 2011 99.8 
			 March 2011 100 
			 February 2011 99.9 
			 January 2011 99.9

Departmental Food

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of food purchased by his Department was produced in the UK in each of the last five years.

Gregory Barker: DECC was established in October 2008 and receives its catering services through a contract procured by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
	DEFRA published three annual reports on food procurement which covered the period April 2006 to March 2009. These reports include an estimate of the proportion of domestically produced food procured for Government Departments and are available in the Library of the House. The percentages of food procured domestically within the estate occupied by DECC from October 2008 to March 2009 are included within the DEFRA figures in the last of these reports.
	The percentage of food under DEFRA's current catering contract with Eurest between May and September 2011 that was sourced from the UK was:
	Meat—43.5%
	Poultry—67.1%
	Fruit & Veg—23.3% of total, 38.5% of indigenous.
	In the period between September and December last year, 61% by value of the food provided was sourced from the UK.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Gregory Barker: Neither the Department of Energy and Climate Change, nor any agencies or non-departmental public bodies for which it is responsible, transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many special advisers his Department employs; and at what pay grade.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 15 December 2011, Official Report, column 876W.

Energy: Billing

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of domestic customers who pay their (a) gas and (b) electricity bills by periodic fixed direct debit; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of such customers who are in credit on at least 50 per cent. of occasions.

Charles Hendry: In Q3 of 2011 (latest information available) the number of domestic customers in the UK who paid for their energy by direct debit were: 12.1 million gas customers (55% of total customers) and 14.2 million electricity customers (53% of total customers).
	DECC does not hold any information on whether direct debit accounts are in credit.

Energy: Billing

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average amount of funds held by the big six energy suppliers for each domestic account that is in credit in the last year.

Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, including customer payments. In 2009, Ofgem introduced a new supply licence condition that came into effect in January 2010, which requires suppliers to ensure customers' direct debit payments are clearly and accurately explained and are based on the best available information. Suppliers are also required to justify why they are holding on to any credit balances built up by customers. It is for Ofgem to assess whether suppliers comply with the licence condition and take action if they do not.

Energy: Consumption

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what proportion of energy consumed in the UK was (a) domestic and (b) business consumption in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008, (iv) 2009 and (v) 2010;
	(2)  what domestic energy consumption was in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010;
	(3)  what business energy consumption was in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010.

Charles Hendry: These data are published annually. As this was last published at the end of July 2011, no further update is currently available. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 14 September 2011, Official Report, column 1165-66W.

Energy: EU Action

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Danish EU Presidency on liberalisation of the energy market; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet with their international counterparts on a regular basis to discuss a range of market issues.
	Denmark has highlighted the improvement of EU energy infrastructure as a key priority and is aiming to secure agreement on the draft Regulation on Trans-European Energy Networks by the summer. Creating the right regulatory framework to facilitate investment in energy infrastructure will aid the completion of the single energy market meeting energy security objectives and supporting Europe's transition to a low carbon economy.

Energy: Meters

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking under the procurement process for smart meter communication services to assess (a) the proposed coverage and (b) the viability of different technologies in rural areas.

Charles Hendry: The purpose of the procurement processes for the data and communication services is to evaluate the technical capability and value for money of proposed solutions. For communication services this will include assessing the proposed coverage, efficacy and viability of different technologies across Great Britain, including any particular challenges posed by remote and rural areas.

Energy: Prices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure the energy regulator enforces cost reflective pricing in the energy market for customers with and without (a) internet access and (b) access to direct debit banking.

Charles Hendry: Ofgem has put in place licence conditions to prevent unfair price differentials, such as those between different payment methods and groups of customers.
	Ofgem has reported on the effectiveness of these changes, including as part of their as part of their retail market review, available online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/rmr/Documents1/RMR_FINAL.pdf
	As part of this review Ofgem have put forward proposals to simplify tariff structures and improve transparency of price differentials.

Energy: Prices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure energy companies do not discriminate against existing customers when recruiting new customers;
	(2)  whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure energy companies do not discriminate against customers in respect of whether or not they have internet access;
	(3)  whether he plans to take steps to prevent energy companies cross-subsidising new and existing customers;
	(4)  whether he plans to take steps to prevent energy companies cross-subsidising offline and online customers.

Charles Hendry: We have no plans to bring forward the legislative proposals suggested by the hon. Member. Ofgem are taking steps through their retail market review to ensure energy consumers are treated fairly, and are consulting on proposals to simplify tariffs and improve transparency regarding differentials.
	Ofgem has already put in place licence conditions to prevent unfair price differentials, such as those between different payment methods or groups of customers.
	The information requested is a matter for Ofgem. I have asked the chief executive of Ofgem to write to the hon. Member and we will place a copy of his letter in the Libraries of the House.

Energy: Prices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2011, Official Report, column 539W, on energy prices, what assessment he has made of the steps taken by Ofgem on predatory pricing;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to prevent energy companies offering heavily discounted deals only to new customers; what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem on preventing such deals; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether Ofgem has responded to his request that it take action on predatory pricing.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet with Ofgem on a regular basis to discuss a range of market issues, including promoting competition.
	To date, I have not received a written response from Ofgem to the request the hon. Member refers to. The further information requested by the hon. Member is also a matter for Ofgem. The Chief Executive of Ofgem has confirmed he will write to the hon. Member shortly, and we will place a copy of his letter in the Libraries of the House.

Energy: Standards

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure compliance with clean energy targets and deadlines.

Charles Hendry: The UK has a binding target under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 to produce 15% of its energy from renewable sources across the electricity, heat and transport sectors by 2020.
	The UK Renewable Energy Roadmap (published in July 2011) sets out a suite of measures to help meet our target in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
	In December 2011 we submitted our first Progress Report to the European Commission, as required under the Renewable Energy Directive. This shows that at the end of 2010 (the latest data available) 3.3% of our energy came from renewable sources, and that we are currently on track to meet our first interim target of 4.04% at the end of 2012. The Progress Report can be downloaded from our website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/renewable_ener.aspx

Government Procurement Card

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount of each transaction made on a Government procurement card held by his private office between May 2010 and December 2011.

Gregory Barker: Providing the information at the level of detail requested would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Department has published on its website the information requested for transactions over £500 made using departmental government procurement cards between April and October 2011. The Department will publish this information for 2010-11 before 31 March 2012.
	Going forward the Department will publish this information for transactions over £500 on a monthly basis.
	The information can be found through the following link.
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/spend_over_500/spend_over 500.aspx

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings the Minister of State for Climate Change had to discuss the Green Deal between September and December 2011.

Gregory Barker: Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the Department's website. The list for the period in question will be published in due course.

Infrastructure: Capital Investment

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much private sector capital his Department's programmes for infrastructure investment have attracted since May 2010.

Charles Hendry: While DECC does not systematically record all private sector capital investment in energy infrastructure the Government remain confident that the actions set out in the EMR White Paper and National Infrastructure Plan 2011 for example, will incentivise sufficient investment to deliver secure, affordable, low-carbon energy.
	Since May 2010, around 2.5 GW of operational renewable electricity capacity has been added to the system. According to National Grid's latest Transmission Entry Capacity Database, around 3 GW of other capacity has also been added which includes CCGT capacity and the final 400 MW stage of the Britned interconnector. Additionally we have consented 17 Section 36 planning applications with a total generating capacity of over 9 GW (renewables 1,601 MW, thermal 7,570 MW).
	In addition EDF has submitted a development consent application for a nuclear power plant at Hinkley in Somerset and there has been significant interest from investors in the UK's offshore electricity transmission regime where licences have been granted to four Offshore Transmission Owners (OFTOs) so far since May 2010, which represents a collective investment from them of £254 million.

Methane

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's latest estimate is of the reserves of methane hydrate in the UK; what his Department's policy is on the extraction of methane hydrate; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The presence of methane hydrates in deep waters west of Shetland is possible, but has not been established. In the absence of any commercial technology for exploiting such resources, no estimate of reserves can be made at the present time. As with all other hydrocarbon resources, the Department would only allow exploitation where this can safely be carried out with full regard for protection of the environment.

Nuclear Power Stations: Hinkley Point

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has received any additional information concerning the Hinkley Point licensed nuclear site since the designation of the National Nuclear Policy Statement (NPS-6) which has resulted in a reconsideration of the suitability of the site for a new nuclear power plant.

Charles Hendry: I have received no information which would give rise to a belief that the site was not suitable. On 24 November 2011 the Infrastructure Planning Commission accepted for examination EDF's application for development consent for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria he used to set budget limits for the feed-in tariff scheme.

Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	As part of the comprehensive spending review HM Treasury and DECC worked closely to agree the budget available for the Feed-in Tariffs Scheme as part of the Levy Control Framework. As with all policies the Government considered the wider economic impact when determining the available budget, ensuring that it represented good value for money in delivering the objectives of low carbon, renewable electricity and engaging households with our low carbon agenda.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his planned changes to feed-in tariffs, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that rural businesses remain in the renewable energy industry.

Gregory Barker: The proposed changes to the FITs scheme will ensure that it is on a sustainable footing going forward to allow as many people as possible to take advantage of it. It will continue to offer opportunities to businesses in rural and urban areas, as will the Renewable Heat Incentive when it is introduced later this year.
	I am also working with my colleague in DEFRA to set up the rural community renewable fund announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in November. This will provide communities with a fund to develop and own their own renewable energy and will increase jobs within local businesses.
	Anaerobic Digestion (AD) also has an important role to play in the Government's agenda for renewable energy and waste. We hope that the proposed tariffs will encourage farm owners, where appropriate, to consider the use of agricultural AD plants to dispose of the waste that they produce in a more sustainable way, which in turn should provide benefits for local businesses and the wider rural community.

Shale Gas: Exploration

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Welsh Government has requested advice from his Department on exploration methods for shale gas; and what advice his Department gave.

Charles Hendry: Welsh Government officials regularly liaise with the Department on a number of issues including shale gas exploration. In addition representatives from the Welsh Government and other devolved bodies are included in the regular shale gas liaison teleconferences which my officials hold with other key regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive and respective Environmental Agencies.

Shale Gas: Exploration

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for public (a) scrutiny and (b) consultation on his proposals for the regulation of shale gas drilling.

Charles Hendry: Shale gas activities are already regulated in same way as other UK oil and gas exploration and production activities. These regulations are considered to be among the most robust in the world.

Shale Gas: Exploration

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many exploration and development licences for shale gas drilling in the UK he has issued since May 2010; and in which locations applicants began exploration work under each such licence.

Charles Hendry: No onshore petroleum exploration and development licences have been issued by my Department since May 2010.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: International Co-operation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which international food and farming tradeshows Ministers in her Department are planning to attend in 2012.

Richard Benyon: The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), will be attending the Gulfood trade show in Dubai at the end of February. It has also been proposed that he attend a China Animal Husbandry Expo in Nanjing, China at the end of May.

Animal Health and Welfare Board for England

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England has sought to recruit a member of the board who is a dairy farmer; whether this position has been advertised on her Department’s website; what her policy is on ensuring that members of the board are capable of fully representing the range of (a) animal management systems in use and (b) issues raised in relation to animal health and welfare in England; and what her policy is on transparency in appointments to the board.

James Paice: On 30 January 2012, I appointed the two final non-executive members of the Animal Health and Welfare Board, one of whom is a dairy farmer.
	The board’s terms of reference set out that the appointment of the chair and other non-executive board members will be conducted in an open and transparent manner. The board applied a similar process for appointing the final two non-executive members to that for appointing the other non-executive members. This process is rigorous and follows the key principles set out in the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies.
	In line with the recommendations of the England Advisory Group on responsibility and cost-sharing, the non-executive members of the board are appointed as individuals rather than as representatives of organisations, sectors or interest groups. They bring a range of expertise and skills to the board’s deliberations and between them have the experience or the ability to understand the full range of animal health and welfare issues, including animal management systems. The board can also access further expertise when the need arises.

Animal Welfare: Poultry

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take at European level to seek to ensure that all EU member states comply with EU animal welfare requirements in egg production.

James Paice: The Commission is taking action to deal with non-compliance across the EU and has written formal infraction letters to 13 of the 14 member states that have not complied with the conventional cage ban. The UK is also likely to receive an infraction letter shortly, because of our very low level of non-compliance (as of 25 January, less than 0.05% of the total UK flock were still in conventional cages and the position is improving daily). The Commission has now received action plans from all non-compliant member states which should contain measures to accelerate compliance. There are to be monthly reports of these plans in Brussels at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and we will be fully engaged in these discussions.
	In addition, the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office missions will also be targeted at non-compliant member states in the first half of this year.
	Ultimately it is for the Competent Authority in each member state to take responsibility at source for ensuring that any remaining producers move out of conventional cages. The UK is working hard towards achieving full compliance and wishes to see the rest of Europe follow suit as quickly as possible.

Biodiversity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on biodiversity conservation in (a) England and (b) the British overseas territories in 2010-11.

Richard Benyon: Details of DEFRA spend on biodiversity conservation in England in 2010-11 are provided in the following table. These figures represent DEFRA programme spend and spend by the wider DEFRA network but do not include staff costs. They also include total agri-environment scheme expenditure and the DEFRA biodiversity research programme, of which, a major share is judged to be spent on biodiversity in England.
	
		
			 Estimated public expenditure by DEFRA network organisations on biodiversity conservation in England, 2010-11 
			  £ million 
			 DEFRA: agri-environment schemes(1) 384.4 
			   
			 Other DEFRA expenditure:  
			 Biodiversity Programme 1.9 
			 Research(1) 4.2 
			   
			 Environment Agency 26.2 
			   
			 Forestry Commission 18.7 
			   
			 Natural England 36.5 
			   
			 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 2.2 
			 DEFRA network total(2) 474.1 
			 (1) Total scheme and research expenditure, of which, the major share is judged to be spent on biodiversity in England (2) Totals may not add due to rounding. 
		
	
	DEFRA spend on biodiversity conservation in the British overseas territories in 2010-11 is estimated to be £1,421,651. This includes commitments under the Darwin initiative and support for projects to address invasive non-native species. It also includes spend by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. It does not include spend by others, for example, the Governments of the overseas territories themselves, who are principally responsible for biodiversity conservation in their territories.

Biofuels: Health Hazards

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 10 November 2009, Official Report, columns 218-9W, on renewable energy, if she will estimate the likely annual morbidity arising from the emissions from each megawatt of installed biomass capacity.

Richard Benyon: The Government recognise that emissions from biomass have a potential effect on health, which is why we have published our intention to include emission limits for particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen as eligibility criteria for the Renewable Heat Incentive. DEFRA has not commissioned a specific estimate of morbidity related to emissions from biomass combustion.

British Overseas Territories: Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department provides funding to British Overseas Territories to help them protect their waters from illegal fishing.

Richard Benyon: As part of DEFRA’s support and assistance to the UK Overseas Territories, it has jointly funded, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a project to develop 'model' legislation to assist the Overseas Territories in ensuring that they have appropriate and robust procedures in place to address illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.

Contaminated Land

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the statutory guidance following the consultation on changes to the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Richard Benyon: The draft Statutory Guidance will be laid in Parliament shortly. According to section 78YA of the 1990 Environment Protection Act (as amended by section 57 of the 1996 Environment Act), the draft part 2A Statutory Guidance has to be laid before each House of Parliament for a period of 40 days. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is unable to issue the Statutory Guidance until that 40-day period had elapsed and subject to there not having been a resolution of either House that the guidance should not be issued.

Contaminated Land

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the responses to the consultation on changes to the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Richard Benyon: The summary of the responses to the consultation on changes to the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environment Protection Act 1990 will be published on the DEFRA website when the draft Statutory Guidance is laid in Parliament. We hope to be publishing the summary of consultation responses shortly.

Contaminated Land

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had on the possible effect on the property market of her planned introduction of four categories of land quality resulting from investigations into contamination.

Richard Benyon: The possible effect on the property market on the proposed changes to the Part 2A Statutory Guidance was considered as part of the Impact Assessment on the proposed Simplification of the Contaminated Land Regime. This Impact Assessment is available on DEFRA's website.
	Further research has been commissioned to look at estimating the potential benefits of investigating and remediating contaminated land, including possible effects on the property market, and the results of this research will be available on the DEFRA website when it is complete.

Contaminated Land

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility of her Department's public consultation on its revised contaminated land statutory guidance with her obligations under section 78YA of the Environment Protection Act 1990.

Richard Benyon: The public consultation on the proposed changes to the Part 2A Statutory Guidance on contaminated land held between December 2010 and March 2011 fully meets the Secretary of State's obligations under section 78YA of the Environment Protection Act 1990, which states that:
	“Any power of the Secretary of State to issue guidance under this Part shall only be exercisable after consultation with the appropriate Agency and such other bodies or persons as he may consider it appropriate to consult in relation to the guidance in question.”
	Full details about the consultation, including a list of consultees, can be found on the DEFRA website.

Crayfish

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many crayfish licences have been granted by the Environment Agency in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: The following table outlines the number of crayfish trapping applications that were consented to in the last five calendar years.
	
		
			  Number of consented applications 
			 2007 458 
			 2008 582 
			 2009 637 
			 2010 774 
			 2011 882

Dangerous Dogs

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) letters and (b) e-mails on dangerous dogs she has received from (a) hon. Members, (b) peers and (c) others in the last 12 months.

James Paice: In the period from 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012, DEFRA received 287 letters and e-mails from hon. Members of Parliament and 131 letters and 117 e-mails from members of the public about dangerous dogs. There is no record of any letters or e-mails on the subject from peers.

Departmental Data Protection

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of data loss or breaches of confidentiality occurred in her Department in 2011.

Richard Benyon: Five cases of data loss or breaches of confidentiality were reported in 2011.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons her Department has not published its responses to requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 since the third quarter of 2010.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA's disclosure log of FOI responses was not updated between October 2010 and 26 January 2012. The disclosure log is now up date to the end of September 2011 and will be updated to the end of December 2011 in early February.
	DEFRA's Information Rights team aim is to update the disclosure log every quarter but a 20% increase in the number of requests for information made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) in the last year and a decision to prioritise other work led to a gap in the disclosure log, which is now being corrected.
	Individual responses to FOIA and EIR requests are not published on DEFRA's website. The disclosure log at:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/corporate/policy/opengov/defra/available/inforelease/index.htm
	provides a summary of DEFRA's responses in each quarter of the calendar year and visitors to the site are invited to contact the DEFRA Library if they want to see a particular response. For responses not yet listed in the disclosure log, requests can be made direct to DEFRA's Information Rights team by emailing:
	informationrights@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobs in (a) her Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which she is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA did not transfer any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11 and neither did its agencies. In the same period, two non-departmental public bodies transferred a total of 106 permanent roles to the private sector; 100 of these were from the Environment Agency, and six from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times each Minister in her Department has visited (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales in an official capacity since their appointment.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA ministers have visited Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in an official capacity on the following occasions:
	
		
			 Date Constituencies Purpose of meeting 
			 Secretary of State   
			 23 August 2011 Edinburgh North and Leith Richard Lochhead 
			 11-12 January 2012 Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Eyemouth Harbour Trust 
			  East Lothian NFU Scotland 
			  Edinburgh South West Scotch Whisky Association, 
			  Midlothian, East Lothian Richard Lochhead, Forestry Commission 
			    
			 Jim Paice   
			 14 February 2011 North East Fife NFU Scotland AGM and local farm visits 
			 16 January 2012 Glasgow Central SEMEX Dairy Conference 
			    
			 Richard Benyon   
			 30 August 2010 Banff and Buchan Meeting on UK pelagic interests 
			 1 October 2010 Aberdeen North Meeting on fisheries with Commissioner Damanaki and Richard Lochhead 
			 9 November 2011 Edinburgh East Evidence session at the Scottish Parliament 
			 20 October 2010 Belfast West Stakeholder meeting 
			    
			 Lord Taylor   
			 No visits   
			    
			 Lord Henley   
			 24-25 February 2011 Newport West Representing England at the British Irish Council

Departmental Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many away days her Department has held since May 2010; what the location was of each such away day; how many staff attended; and what the cost was of each such event.

Richard Benyon: This information is not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Work Experience

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work experience or traineeship schemes her Department offers to minority groups.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA does not offer its own work experience or trainee schemes to minority groups but participates in civil service-wide schemes run by the Cabinet Office. This summer we will be offering five traineeships through the Summer Diversity Internship scheme.

Direct Mail: Waste

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the amount of waste generated by junk mail.

Richard Benyon: In November 2011, the Government launched a responsibility deal with the direct marketing industry to improve the environmental performance of the sector, and ensure it plays its part in supporting a move towards a zero waste economy. By 2014, the deal aims to significantly reduce the amount of unnecessary direct marketing material produced and sent out through the marketing industry increasing its use of suppression and targeting data, such as ‘do not contact’ and ‘gone away’ lists, by 25%.
	The deal commits the industry to actions including an improved opt-out scheme to give householders more control over what is posted through their letterboxes. This replaces the current outdated system, where householders have to register on three separate websites or apply by post to stop different types of unwanted direct mail.
	It also commits industry to developing a new standard to ensure direct mail is produced to higher standards and is fully recyclable.

Farming Regulation Task Force

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if her Department will specify the timescales and actions to be taken to implement the recommendations of the Farming Regulation Task Force report; [R]
	(2)  when she expects to issue her final response to the report of the Farming Regulation Task Force. [R]

James Paice: I plan to publish a full response to the Farming Regulation Task Force recommendations by the end of this month. The response will set out our proposed actions in response to each recommendation.

Flood Control

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 633W, on floods: north east, what flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes are planned for each English region other than the north east in 2012-13.

Richard Benyon: The answer of 13 December 2011, Official Report, column 633W was based on an indicative programme of flood and coastal erosion schemes likely to go ahead next year. The Environment Agency Board is meeting in early February to confirm the final allocation of capital budget to regions and schemes. There will be a subsequent announcement, at which point I will write to you with details of the final flood and coastal erosion risk management programme for 2012-13.

Flood Control: Expenditure

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much flood defences cost in (a) Cumbria and (b) England in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: The following table sets out the amounts allocated for investment in flood and coastal erosion defences in (a) Cumbria and (b) England for the last five years.
	
		
			 Allocation (£ million) 
			  National (capital (1) ) National (maintenance (2) ) Cumbria (capital (1) ) Cumbria (maintenance (2) ) 
			 2006-07 142.077 122.158 6.707 3.103 
			 2007-08 146.6 127.9 8.535 3.04 
			 2008-09 263.2 153.3 11.782 3.109 
			 2009-10 291.4 163.4 14.013 3.06 
			 2010-11 345 172.1 13.089 2.872 
			 (1) Capital investment for schemes only, funded through a combination of Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) and Local Levy funding. Major capital schemes delivered in the time frame include; Carlisle City and Caldew Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) (£23 million); River Eden/Petteril Flood Defences Carlisle (£12 million); Thacka Beck Penrith FAS (£5 million); and Cumbria Floods Emergency Works (£3 million). (2) Maintenance investment includes FDGiA funding for frequent/intermittent maintenance and incident response.

Food: Waste Disposal

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide incentives for the commercial catering sector to recycle food waste for use in renewable energy generation.

Richard Benyon: Anaerobic digestion plants that generate renewable energy from food waste are eligible for a range of incentives, such as feed-in tariffs and the renewable heat incentive. In addition, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) recently launched a £100,000 fund to support organisations that want to start collecting food waste from businesses or to expand existing collections. The Government have no plans to introduce incentives directed specifically at the commercial catering sector.
	The June 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England committed the Government to develop a new responsibility deal with businesses in the hospitality and food service sector, which includes the commercial catering sector. This deal will aim to reduce food waste and ensure that unavoidable food waste is managed more sustainably, including for use in renewable energy generation.
	We are working with WRAP, the devolved Administrations and the industry to produce this deal. We received industry input on the proposed targets and structure in January, and will use this to produce the final deal, which we hope to launch in the spring.

Freedom of Information

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department publishes on its website its response to each request it receives under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; whether the response is published in the same part of its website on each occasion; and what the average time taken is between responding to a request and the information being made available on the website.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not publish individual responses to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR). However, a disclosure log summarising DEFRA's responses to FOIA and EIR requests is published on DEFRA's website at:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/corporate/policy/opengov/defra/available/inforelease/index.htm
	The disclosure log provides a summary of DEFRA's responses in each quarter of the calendar year and visitors to the site are invited to contact the DEFRA Library if they want to see a particular response.
	DEFRA's information rights team aim to update the disclosure log every quarter of the calendar year and the site is currently up to date to the end of September 2011 and will be updated again with cases dealt with in the fourth quarter of 2011 in early February. An approximate 20% increase in the number of requests made to DEFRA in the past year and a decision to prioritise other work led to delays in updating the site over the past 12 months.
	Visitors to the site are invited to contact the DEFRA Library if they want to see a particular response. For responses not yet listed in the disclosure log, requests can be made direct to DEFRA's Information Rights team by emailing:
	informationrights@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Japanese Knotweed

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken to protect waterways from Japanese knotweed.

Richard Benyon: Because of Japanese knotweed's invasive nature, it is listed on schedule 9 and subject to section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it an offence to plant, or cause this species to grow, in the wild. Japanese knotweed is also regarded as controlled waste and as such its disposal is governed by waste disposal regulations.
	Japanese knotweed is now firmly established within Great Britain and national eradication is beyond any realistic prospect. Consequently, the only realistic approach to its control is to encourage landowners and others to manage the weed where it is impacting on their interests. There is no general compulsion to do so but under the cross-compliance rules, for example, those in receipt of the single farm payment are required to take reasonable steps to prevent its spread. However, the Government are supporting a broad-scale and long-term approach to managing Japanese knotweed via the controlled release of the highly specialist psyllid Aphalara itadori. If successful, this should restrict its growth, slow its capacity to spread vigorously and enhance the effectiveness of management effort.
	Tackling invasive species along waterways requires a co-ordinated effort to reduce the risk of re-invasion. There are a growing number of county or catchment based action groups emerging throughout Britain with a focus on tackling invasive non-native species at a local level. Many of these groups include volunteers working with landowners and local organisations to control or eradicate invasive non-native species, such as Japanese knotweed, from local waterways and river catchments. The Government are supporting such projects via funding and through the framework of the GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy, which was launched in 2008.

Landfill Tax

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the revenue generated from implementation of the EU Landfill Tax in each year since its introduction.

Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The following table sets out the revenue from landfill tax since its introduction in 1996.
	
		
			 Financial year Revenue (£ million) 
			 1997-98 334 
			 1998-99 333 
			 1999-2000 430 
			 2000-01 462 
			 2001-02 502 
			 2002-03 541 
			 2003-04 607 
			 2004-05 672 
			 2005-06 733 
			 2006-07 804 
			 2007-08 877 
			 2008-09 954 
			 2009-10 842 
			 2010-11 1,065

Members: Correspondence

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department’s target time is for responding to communications from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA’s target time for responding to correspondence from hon. and right hon. Members and members of the public is 15 working days.

Otters

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the size of the otter population in the last 30 years.

Richard Benyon: It is currently not possible to estimate otter abundance from the quantity and distribution of otter signs and sightings. Research investigating the possibility of assessing numbers of otters from DNA or chemical analysis of spraint (otter faeces) is ongoing.
	Four national otter surveys have been carried out in England in the last 30 years—in 1984-86, 1991-94, 2000-02 and 2009-10. Direct comparison of the 2,940 sites used in all four of these surveys reveals that the number of sites showing signs of otters has increased from 10% in 1984-86 to 23.4% in 1991-94, 36.3% in 2000-02, and again to 58.8% in 2009-10. Since the publication of the last report, otter signs in Kent have confirmed that the species is now present throughout England. This demonstrates the slow but gradual recovery of otter populations over this period, moving from west to east.

Rivers: Environmental Protection

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Natural England on the protection of the Lune Estuary; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the use of jet skis in estuarial waters.

Richard Benyon: In 2010, DEFRA asked Natural England to undertake a review of the risks to European Marine Sites (EMS) of anthropological activities. Natural England has published its advice, “Research Report NERR038—European Marine Site Risk Review”, which concluded that recreational activities within Morecambe Bay (including the Lune Estuary) posed a risk of impacting Special Protection Area (SPA) bird species through disturbance but that there was uncertainty about the condition of the interest feature. In response to the report DEFRA produced a “Generic plan for recreational activities causing disturbance in European Marine Sites”. However, this sought to address high risk activities in specific sites and did not address Morecambe Bay due to the uncertainty over actual impacts. More information is available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/protect/mpa/european-marine-sites/
	Work to clarify the risk from recreational activities to SPA/Ramsar areas is ongoing. Where there are unacceptable risks to SPA/Ramsar interests, both within and outside the designated site, Natural England will work with relevant authorities such as the Marine Management Organisation and the local authorities, and through the European marine site Management Group and Morecambe Bay Partnership to help identify appropriate advice, management or controls to avoid or mitigate impacts on the designated site interests.

Rural Areas

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish her Department's Rural Policy Statement.

Richard Benyon: The Government propose to publish their Rural Statement in the late spring of 2012.

Scotland

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list visits made to each parliamentary constituency in Scotland by Ministers in her Department since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA Ministers have visited Scotland in an official capacity on the following occasions:
	
		
			 The Secretary of State 
			  Constituencies Meeting 
			 23 August 2011 Edinburgh North and Leith Richard Lochhead 
			 11-12 January 2012 Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Eyemouth Harbour Trust 
			  East Lothian NFU Scotland 
			  Edinburgh South West Scotch Whisky Association 
			  Midlothian, East Lothian Richard Lochhead, Forestry Commission 
		
	
	
		
			 The Minister  for Agriculture and Food  (Mr Paice) 
			  Constituencies Meeting 
			 14 February 2011 North East Fife NFU Scotland AGM and local farm visits 
			 16 January 2012 Glasgow Central SEMEX Dairy Conference 
		
	
	
		
			 The  Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries  (Richard Benyon) 
			  Constituencies Meeting 
			 30 August 2010 Banff and Buchan Meeting on UK pelagic interests 
			 1 October 2010 Aberdeen North Meeting on fisheries with Commissioner Damanaki and Richard Lochhead 
			 9 November 2011 Edinburgh East Evidence session at the Scottish Parliament 
		
	
	The Parliamentary Under - Secretary ,  Lord Taylor
	No visits
	The Parliamentary Under - Secretary ,  Lord Henley
	No visits

Snares

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department’s research project entitled Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales will assess snares specifically intended to catch hares and badgers.

James Paice: No, as this was never the intention of the project.

Veterinary Medicine: Negligence

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will put in place measures to monitor cases of veterinary medical negligence. [R]

James Paice: The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is responsible for the regulation of the veterinary profession and DEFRA is unable to intervene in that process. RCVS deals with complaints against veterinary surgeons of “conduct disgraceful in any professional respect”. RCVS will investigate the alleged negligence only if it is so serious as to be an issue of professional conduct. Claims of negligence may be resolved between client and veterinary surgeon or pursued through the civil courts.

Veterinary Medicine: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will discuss with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons standards of training for general practice vets.

James Paice: The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is responsible for setting the standards for education, training and professional conduct of the profession. A veterinary degree is a rigorous five to six-year-long course that prepares the student for work as a veterinary surgeon. UK veterinary schools regularly undergo evaluation from RCVS and the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) to ensure that their courses are meeting the required standards. The RCVS “Guide to professional conduct” also contains provisions for continuing professional development (CPD) that all veterinary surgeons must adhere to. Although DEFRA does not intervene on a formal basis in this matter, its officials regularly engage with the RCVS and UK veterinary schools to discuss veterinary education.

Water Charges

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with Ofwat on the revision of guidelines for water prices for 2012-13; what assessment she has made of the effect of such revisions on household budgets; and whether she plans to have similar discussions in respect of water prices for 2013-14;
	(2)  what plans she has to expand the criteria under which Ofwat can restrict price increases made by water companies in 2013-14.

Richard Benyon: On 31 January Ofwat announced household water and sewerage bill rises for 2012-13. Water companies are obliged to submit their planned price adjustments to Ofwat for approval each year ahead of confirming them to their customers. As the regulator for the water industry, Ofwat challenges companies' proposed bill rises and approves each company's charges scheme, having set price limits on a five-yearly basis.
	The most recent price review was in 2009 and this set price limits at 0.5% above inflation to allow companies to make the necessary investment to secure water supplies and infrastructure. The present bill rises are in line with this price limit; the next price review will be in 2014 and will cover price limits from 2015 to 2020.
	As discussed in the Water White Paper, “Water For Life”, published 8 December 2011, the Government are aware that some people struggle to afford their water charges. The Government are issuing guidance to water companies to allow them to bring forward social tariffs to reduce the charges of households that would otherwise be unable to pay in full. We are also consulting on measures to tackle bad debt in the water industry which currently adds £15 to everyone's bill.

Water Companies: Debts

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will make available the cost impact assessment for its consultation Tackling Bad Debt in the Water Industry, January 2012.

Richard Benyon: The impact assessment for the consultation Tackling Bad Debt in the Water Industry is on the DEFRA website.

Water Supply: Consumers

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the role of the Water Services Regulation Authority is in ensuring the customer service arrangements of water suppliers are fit for purpose;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to improve the Water Services Regulation Authority's oversight of the standards of conduct towards consumers of water supplies;
	(3)  what plans she has to improve standards of conduct towards consumers of water supplies.

Richard Benyon: Ofwat's role is to protect consumers, and it does this by ensuring that water companies provide a good quality service at a fair price. Ofwat's Service Incentive Mechanism (SIM) measures how many customers contact water and sewerage companies (for a range of different types of contact), and customers' experience of issue resolution with their company. SIM performance is taken into account as a part of the price setting process, and therefore incentivises companies continually to improve their conduct with their consumers.
	The Government's Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations set out guaranteed minimum standards of service for individual customers. Where a company fails to meet certain service standards it is required to make a payment to any affected customers. These payments and their levels are governed by the Guaranteed Standards Scheme which was laid out by the Government in April 2008.
	In December 2011, the Government published their White Paper on Water, 'Water for Life'. It sets out a vision for the water sector, putting customers at its heart, and also challenges water companies to involve their customers in identifying solutions to improve standards and services in their area.

Wildlife Trusts: Expenditure

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has made available to the wildlife trusts in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	DEFRA and its arm's length bodies provide funding to the Wildlife Trusts to support a variety of aims and projects. These include improving the long-term supply of biodiversity data, funding Local Nature Partnership capacity building, supporting projects to control the spread of invasive non-native plants and running a national wildlife gardening competition. Individual trusts also receive funding in respect of agri-environment agreements, and woodland creation and management, funded through the Rural Development Programme for England.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Reduced Street Lighting: Effect on Crime

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effect of reduced street lighting on (a) levels and (b) fear of crime in England and Wales.

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effect of reduced street lighting on (a) levels and (b) fear of crime in England and Wales.

Nick Herbert: A review of local authority street lighting last year found that while there is potential to reduce carbon emissions and light pollution, as well as deliver savings, these benefits need to be considered in the context of the important role that lighting plays in helping to reduce crime.

Police and Crime Commissioners

George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential role of police and crime commissioners in making the police more responsive to the priorities of local communities.

Theresa May: Police and Crime Commissioners will be powerful, local, directly elected people. They will respond to local communities by using their democratic mandate and engagement with local communities to set the priorities for their police force. They will also set the police force budget, including the local precept contribution. And they will hold their chief constable to account for the performance of their force.

Criminal Record Checks

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent progress she has made on reforming the Criminal Records Bureau status checks regime.

Lynne Featherstone: We are committed to making the criminal records regime more proportionate and efficient. The Protection of Freedoms Bill includes provisions for portable criminal records checks and subject to Royal Assent, we expect the online checking service to be rolled out in early 2013.

Police Pay and Conditions

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with police forces on the recommendations of the independent review of police officers' and staff remuneration and conditions by Tom Winsor.

Theresa May: Last week, I accepted the Police Arbitration Tribunal's recommendations on Part 1 of Tom Winsor's independent review. These reforms are an important first step towards creating a system that is fair to the taxpayer and fair to police officers. They will help to maximise deployment to frontline roles and give forces the flexibility they need to cut crime.
	I meet regularly with policing partners to discuss these and other issues.

Police Funding Settlement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to reassess the Police Funding Settlement for 2012-13.

Nick Herbert: No. The allocations of police funding were set out last week and will be debated in the House on Wednesday.

Arrest Warrants

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider the UK's operation of the European arrest warrant as part of her response to the Baker review of UK extradition arrangements.

Damian Green: The UK's operation of the European arrest warrant was one of the areas addressed by the independent review of the UK's extradition arrangements, which was published on 18 October 2011. The Home Secretary is carefully considering the review panel's recommendations and the Government will announce what action they will take in due course.

British Nationality

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative proposals to revoke the citizenship of any person found to have obtained British citizenship by deception.

Damian Green: Under section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, as amended, any British citizen may, by Order, be deprived of his or her citizenship if the Home Secretary is satisfied that the registration or naturalisation was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact.
	A policy to deprive on fraud grounds in exercise of these powers was introduced in 2009.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs in (a) her Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which she is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Damian Green: In 2010-11;
	(a) eight jobs in the Home Office, and,
	(b) 19 jobs in the agencies and non-departmental bodies,
	transferred to the private sector.

Domestic Service

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to improve the protection of overseas domestic workers in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Government’s consultation on employment-related settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers (ODWs) included proposals about the routes of entry for ODWs. We are considering future policy for ODWs in light of the outcome of the consultation and will make an announcement shortly.
	We recognise that ODWs can be vulnerable to serious mistreatment and acknowledged this in the consultation. If the route is retained, we will ensure that there are appropriate protections to minimise the potential for abuse and to support ODWs who may be abused in the UK.

Harassment: Internet

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to work with (a) social media networks and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service to support police investigations into cases of internet harassment.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 2 February 2012
	The Government take all forms of harassment very seriously and are committed to taking forward work to address this issue as part of their wider work on violence against women and girls. The Home Office is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to raise the awareness of agencies, including social media networks, that may be involved in tracking down perpetrators of cyber-stalking. We are also working with the Crown Prosecution Service and international partners to ensure better cross-border data sharing to facilitate prosecutions.
	The Government are currently consulting on how to protect victims of stalking, including online stalking, more effectively.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Ministerial inter-departmental committee on Human Trafficking has met; and what was the average number of its members who did not attend.

Damian Green: Since its inception in February 2011 the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking has met twice. An average of 10 members did not attend.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of foreign nationals working illegally in Northern Ireland.

Damian Green: The Home Office does not make estimates of the number of illegal immigrants or workers in the UK.
	Law enforcement and removals are key parts of the Home Office's work in Northern Ireland. Enforcement teams in the regions are clamping down on illegal working, removing migrants who do not have the right to be here, and detecting organised and international immigration crime.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent estimate she has made of the number of wheel-clamping companies; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of rogue private sector wheel-clamping companies; what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the enactment of Clause 54 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill on such companies; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  whether she plans to bring forward proposals to amend Clause 54 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the number of individuals who were (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured by rogue private sector wheel clampers in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Private Security Industry Act 2001, which regulates the activity of immobilisation of vehicles, does not apply to businesses. However the Act requires individuals to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority to carry out immobilisation, blocking in or towing away of vehicles on private land in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a view to charging a release fee. As of 30 January 2012 there were 1,252 valid vehicle immobiliser licences.
	As businesses are not required to be licensed, we do not have accurate figures for the numbers of businesses. However, an Impact Assessment on the reform of vehicle immobilisation was published on the Home Office website on 14 September 2011, which estimated that there are approximately 350 vehicle immobilisation businesses. The impact assessment can be found on the Home Office website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/legislation/freedom-bill/reform-vehicle-immob-ia?view=Binary
	Given the nature of their operations and the way in which crime statistics are categorised, information on the number of "rogue" wheel clamping companies and their operations, including the number of individuals who have been killed, seriously injured or slightly injured by such operators, is not available.
	As announced on 17 August 2010, it is our intention to ban immobilisation, blocking in or towing away of vehicles in England and Wales without lawful authority. Provisions are included in clauses 54 to 56 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill. We have no plans to bring forward any amendments to clause 54.
	Subject to parliamentary approval, it is expected the Bill will receive Royal Assent by May 2012 with the aim of bringing the proposed ban into force as soon as possible after the Bill has been passed.

Immobilisation of Vehicles: Police National Computer

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether rogue private sector wheel clampers are permitted to use the police national computer; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: Access to the police national computer (PNC) by non-police organisations is strictly controlled by the PNC Information Access Panel
	(PIAP), whose membership is comprised of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Police Authorities, the Home Office and the National Policing Improvement Agency. No private sector wheel clampers are permitted to use the police national computer.

John Vine

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 January 2012, on the report by the independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency, for what reasons she considers the investigation by John Vine to be independent.

Damian Green: The independent chief inspector's remit is to monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the UK Border Agency, making recommendations, in particular, on areas such as consistency of approach; the agency's performance; the quality of decision making and the treatment of claimants and applicants.
	The chief inspector is entirely independent of the UK Border Agency and reports directly to the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential role of police and crime commissioners in making the police more responsive to local need.

Nick Herbert: Police and Crime Commissioners will be powerful, local, directly elected people. They will respond to local communities by using their democratic mandate and engagement with local communities to set the priorities for their police force. They will also set the police force budget, including the local precept contribution. And they will hold their chief constable to account for the performance of their force.

Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been allocated to spend on elections for police commissioners (a) nationally and (b) in each region.

Nick Herbert: In 2012-13 the first elections of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will cost £75 million. Election costs will be borne by the Home Office and will not come from police force budgets.
	It is not currently possible to estimate the cost of elections in specific areas as we are collating the relevant information and, as is standard practice, will publish this in summer 2012 ahead of the November elections.

Police Authorities: County Councils

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings a year between local police authorities and county and district councils are (a) required and (b) recommended by her Department.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office neither requires nor recommends a specific frequency of meetings between police authorities and local authorities; this is a matter for agreement between the authorities themselves.

Private Security Industry

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the regulation of the private security industry in each of the next two years; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: As announced in October 2010, there will be a phased transition to a new regulatory regime for the private security industry, with no significant changes until after the Olympics. Work on the transition is under way, and as many changes as possible will be made using secondary legislation. This will mean that the key components of the new regime, including business licensing, will be in place by the end of 2013. Primary legislation will be required at the end of the process to abolish the Security Industry Authority and formally set up its successor.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to question 85690 tabled on 5 December 2011 for named day answer on 8 December 2011, on departmental funding.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, columns 555-56W.

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Eastern Europe

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to tackle the illegal production of alcohol by Eastern European gangs.

Chloe Smith: The Government take illicit alcohol production very seriously, irrespective of the nationality of the criminals involved, and respond robustly to all discoveries of illegal production and bottling in the UK.
	HM Revenue and Customs works collaboratively with other enforcement agencies, such as Trading Standards and the police, to clamp down on the production of illicit alcohol which is often unfit for human consumption. Agencies working together bring a broad range of sanctions and penalties against anyone producing or dealing in illicit alcohol, including criminal prosecution, seizure of goods, vehicles and equipment, assessment for evaded excise duty and the issue of civil financial penalties. Additionally, any retailer caught selling illicit alcohol can have their licence to sell alcohol revoked or suspended.

Chemicals: Foreign Investment in UK

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered introducing new fiscal incentives to secure investment from global chemical companies.

David Gauke: The Government's priority is securing sustainable growth, and as part of the aim to attract and retain private sector investment in the UK the Government are undertaking a significant programme of corporate tax reform. Reforms will support businesses across the economy, including those from the chemical sector, and provide them with the confidence to invest and expand in the UK.

Child Benefit: Income Tax

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 124W, on child benefit, when he expects the Office for National Statistics to make public its official classification of the savings from the proposed withdrawal of child benefit for claimants or their partners liable to pay higher rate tax.

David Gauke: This is a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics.

Crown Estate Commissioners

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what objectives he has set for the Crown Estate in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The Crown Estate's agreed profit target for 2011-12 is £230 million. The profit target for 2012-13 is under discussion.
	The Crown Estate has set itself a medium term objective of making a profit of £250 million by 2014.

Cru Investment Management

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to holding an investigation under section 14 of the Financial Services Markets Act 2000 into the suspension of pension funds of the 20,000 investors in the Arch Cru Investment Fund.

Mark Hoban: The Government have yet to be persuaded that an investigation is appropriate. The powers to set up such an independent inquiry are available when it appears that regulatory failure may have significantly damaged the interests of consumers. It is not the role of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to ensure that no firm fails, or to approve fund investment strategies or accounts, Rather its role is to regulate, in a proportionate manner, the operation of managers' funds. It was the FSA, as part of its routine ARROW inspection of Capita Financial Managers Limited, that identified the issues with CF Arch cru and it moved swiftly, resulting in suspension of the funds. It would be inappropriate for the Government to commit to taking any action while the FSA investigation is still ongoing.

Departmental Equality

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what equality impact assessments his Department has carried out since May 2010; and for what purpose in each case.

Chloe Smith: The Treasury has ensured that equalities are taken into account in its policy area, in line with its legal obligations. However, there is no legal requirement for equality impact assessments to be produced and the information requested, in the form requested, is not held centrally.
	On 20 October 2010 the Treasury published an overview of the impact of the spending review on groups protected by equalities legislation. Since coming into office, the Government have also driven improvements in tax policy making. The Government now publish a Tax Information and Impact Note for all individual tax policy changes. These explicitly include an assessment of the equalities impact of each individual measure.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Chloe Smith: No jobs in HM Treasury or its agencies were transferred to the private sector in the period 2010-11.

Departmental Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year for which figures are available.

Chloe Smith: The following table shows the number of civil servants in each of the Departments for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was responsible in 2010-11, the latest year for which the figures are available, with earnings (including basic salary, allowances and overtime) shown in the bands requested. Responsibility for replies in respect of civil servants then employed by the former Office of Government Commerce has been transferred to the Cabinet Office. Other bodies for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was then responsible did not employ any civil servants.
	Departments are required to seek Cabinet Office authority where they wish to set starting salary levels above £90,000 for deputy director level, above £120,000 for director level and above £140,000 for director general level. Approval must be sought from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for salaries above £142,500. The guidance applies to new contracts, renewal of contract and when a current incumbent moves to a new post.
	
		
			 Department £65,000-£94,999 £95,000-£139,999 £140,000-£174,999 £175,000 or more 
			 HM Treasury Group(1) 85 35 9 1 
			 HM Revenue and Customs(2) 988 59 4 5 
			 National Savings and Investments 10 6 0 1 
			 Government Actuary's Department 24 23 3 1 
			 (1) Includes HM Treasury, the UK Debt Management Office, the Asset Protection Agency, Infrastructure UK and the Office of Budget Responsibility (2) Including the Valuation Office Agency

Enterprise Zones: Blyth

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Enterprise Zone in the port of Blyth.

Chloe Smith: In the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, the Government announced that, subject to due diligence, the North Eastern Enterprise Zone would be extended to include land at the port of Blyth. Government are working with the North Eastern Local Enterprise Partnership to finalise the details of the extension to Blyth, including cost implications. Costs will be met from within the amount already set aside to support Enterprise Zones.

Excise Duties: Beer

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic effect on (a) pubs and (b) hospitality sector jobs of the proposed change in beer duty.

Chloe Smith: holding answer 2 February 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 379W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).

Excise Duties: Gaming Machines

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the amusement industry about the effect of machine games duty on (a) the sector and (b) businesses at the seaside.

Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Excise Duties: Gaming Machines

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the amount of VAT which businesses are able to reclaim and which will become irrecoverable under the system for machine games duty (MGD) will be deducted from MGD liability to prevent small seaside businesses being disadvantaged by the MGD system.

Chloe Smith: As outlined in the summary of responses to the consultation on the design of machine games duty (MGD), businesses will not be able to offset irrecoverable VAT against MGD liabilities. However, the impact of irrecoverable VAT will be taken into consideration when the MGD rates are set.
	The summary of responses to the consultation can be found at the HM Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_machine_games_duty.htm

Excise Duties: Gaming Machines

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure machine games duty is (a) tax revenue neutral and (b) not a burden on small businesses.

Chloe Smith: The introduction of machine games duty (MGD) is not intended to raise additional revenue, but to replace the existing taxation of gaming machines through amusement machine licence duty (AMLD) and VAT.
	Small businesses will benefit from a number of significant amendments that the Government have made to MGD following feedback received during the consultation on the design of the duty. The summary of responses to the consultation can be found at the HM Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_machine_games_duty.htm

Gift Aid: Schools

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the value was of tax relief on gift aid donations to state schools in Lancashire in the last two tax years;
	(2)  what the value was of tax relief on gift aid income received by (a) Eton and (b) Winchester schools and the charities attached to them in the last two tax years.

Chloe Smith: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) records do not separately identify Gift Aid claims by these types of organisations or by counties of the UK.
	For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, HM Revenue and Customs is not able to disclose details of Gift Aid income received by individual charities.
	Amounts of tax repaid to charities in the UK on donations under Gift Aid are published in Table 10.3 on the HMRC website at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm
	In 2010-11 a total of £1,081 million (provisional figure) was repaid to UK charities under Gift Aid.

Income Tax

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential benefits to lower paid employees of raising the income tax threshold to £10,000 per annum and raising the threshold at which national insurance contributions start being paid to a similar level.

David Gauke: The Government have a long-term commitment to increase the personal allowance to £10,000. Future increases in the personal allowance and the employee NICs primary threshold will be considered as part of the annual Budget process.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the measures announced in the autumn statement on marginal deduction rates in 2012-13.

David Gauke: When looking at the effect of measures on work incentives, it is the impact of the tax and benefit system as a whole that is important to households, rather than certain subsets of it. In making any assessment it is also important that as complete a set of measures are included as possible, which is why at Budget 2011 the Government presented detailed analysis of the impact of reforms on work incentives in 2014-15 including universal credit. Universal credit will ensure that support is reduced at a consistent and managed marginal rate (generally at no more than around 76% as compared with 91% currently) as people return to work and increase their working hours and earnings.
	For Budget 2012 the Government will consider the best way of presenting the impacts of reforms on households, consistent with the aim of increasing transparency and enabling the effective scrutiny of policy making.

Mortgages

Richard Fuller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of a 1% rise in mortgage interest rates on average monthly disposable household income.

Chloe Smith: A 1% rise in mortgage interest rates would cost an extra £12,450 million in interest payments or approximately £10 billion. This would be around £90 per month extra in interest payments, on average, per mortgage.

Public Expenditure

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account his Department has taken in its development of policy of the finding of the National Audit Office that at least £31.8 billion has been wasted by Government Departments since 2009.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	Eliminating wasteful spending is a critical priority. The Efficiency and Reform Group was established to address this. Cabinet Office reported last year that £3.75 billion was saved in 2010-11 in central Government. This has been verified by independent auditors, welcomed by the Public Accounts Committee and is confirmed by a National Audit Office report published today, the first time this has ever happened.
	By comparison the figure of at least £31.8 billion arises from analysis conducted by The Times newspaper of over 70 National Audit Office reports, covering both ongoing expenditure, stopped projects and spend planned to take place over an unspecified period. Departments across Government are tackling waste outlined by The Times' analysis. The first 10 months of this Government included an £870 million, 70% reduction in spend on consultants; a reduction in spend on temporary labour of nearly £500 million; over £800 million saved by renegotiating supplier contracts; over £350 million saved by centralising procurement; and close to £150 million saved from Government's top projects, where a Major Projects Authority has been established to assure delivery of the largest 200 projects in Government.

Revenue and Customs: Inspections

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with representatives of small businesses on the operation of HM Revenue and Custom's inspections regime.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers and HM Treasury and HMRC officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	HMRC engages with a wide variety of business representative groups and professional bodies, and uses a well-established range of consultative fora to engage the SME community in particular. That dialogue covers a range of issues, including HMRC's compliance activities.

Stocks and Shares

Frank Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the names are of (a) overseas investors and (b) major private companies which own gilt holdings.

Chloe Smith: Information on the identities of individual gilt owners is held confidentially by the private sector gilt registrar.
	Aggregated data on gilt holdings by sector are published by the Office for National Statistics on a quarterly basis. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 January 2012, Official Report, column 834W, which provided the most recent data for holdings by overseas investors and private companies.

Students: Loans

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional (a) administration costs and (b) resource and accounting budget charges of providing students loans via the Student Loan Company will be when further education student loans are introduced.

John Hayes: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The model for administration of further education (FE) loans is being developed in partnership with the Student Loans Company (SLC) and the Skills Funding Agency. Where possible, we are seeking to build on existing systems and processes.
	The resource and accounting budget charge for FE loans, based on available evidence, is 60%, assuming that 40% will be repaid. The charge has not been influenced by the SLC taking a role in the administration of FE loans.
	All funding allocated to the SLC by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be shown in SLC's annual grant letter or supplementary funding letters issued on behalf of the UK Government Administrations, and will be published on the SLC website.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department will assess the effect on (a) jobs and (b) investment in low carbon environmental goods of the recent change to the control framework for DECC levy-funded spending.

Chloe Smith: The change to the feed-in-tariff (FiT) element of the levy control cap simply represents the way in which the renewables obligation (RO) and feed-in tariff policies were originally modelled by DECC. The revised numbers reflect a correction to this methodology and not a transfer of funds from the RO to FiTs. There is no expectation of any effect on jobs or investment in low carbon environmental goods.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue from environmental taxes levied in the current financial year.

Chloe Smith: Forecasts for tax revenues for 2011-12 were set out in Budget 2011. These figures will be updated at Budget 2012.

Taxation: Foreign Companies

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many NRL2 forms were submitted to HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(2)  how many NRL2 forms were rejected by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(3)  for what reasons NRL2 forms were rejected by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of NRL2 forms submitted to HM Revenue and Customs were from companies with a UK declared owner in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(5)  how many and what proportion of companies that had NRL2 forms approved by HM Revenue and Customs had submitted tax returns in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(6)  what steps HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has taken against those companies that submitted NRL2 forms that were approved by HMRC but then did not submit tax returns in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(7)  how many and what proportion of companies that had NRL2 forms approved by HM Revenue and Customs paid corporation tax in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(8)  how many enquiries HM Revenue and Customs received on question 1 of the NRL2 form in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(9)  how many tenants were pursued by HM Revenue and Customs regarding eligibility for income without deduction of UK tax in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(10)  how many estate agents were pursued by HM Revenue and Customs regarding eligibility for income without deduction of UK tax in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date;
	(11)  how many enquiries HM Revenue and Customs received regarding the capitalisation of foreign-owned property portfolios and the offset of interest from related party companies;
	(12)  whether HM Revenue and Customs maintains a register of companies who have had NRL2 forms approved;
	(13)  what assessment he has made of trends in the consent of NRL2 forms in the last 10 years.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received 2,387 NRL2 forms in 2010-11 and to date have received over 2,000 in 2011-12. None of these have been rejected by HMRC; although the latest available figures show that 12% are returned with a request for further information, having been submitted incomplete. Once forms are processed they are risk assessed to determine whether further compliance activity is needed.
	The number of these forms submitted by companies that have a UK declared owner or that have submitted a tax return could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, HMRC takes a risk-based approach to targeting companies that have not submitted tax returns that may be due.
	None of these non-resident companies would be liable to UK corporation tax on their income from UK property; liability under the scheme is to income tax, both for corporate and non-corporate landlords. Non-resident companies may be liable to UK corporation tax if they are trading in the UK through a permanent establishment, however the number of such companies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	HMRC do not keep specific records on how many inquiries it receives regarding question 1 on the NRL2 form, nor regarding the capitalisation of foreign-owned property portfolios and the offset of interest from related party companies.
	Most rented properties that fall within the non-resident landlord scheme involve a letting or estate agent. Therefore HMRC normally engages with agents rather than tenants. As a result the number of cases which HMRC pursues directly with tenants is very low and in numbers which it is not possible to disclose precisely on confidentiality grounds. HMRC risk assesses letting and estate agents and then undertakes full audits in targeted cases. HMRC cannot provide detailed data on these audits as to do so may prejudice the collection or assessment of tax. Other compliance activity is also carried out on the scheme beyond audit activity.
	HMRC maintains a database of companies that have had NRL2 forms approved. An analysis of trends in form approvals is only held for the last three years, and those data show no change in the trend over the period.

Valuation Office Agency: Annual Reports

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Valuation Office Agency included information on the success rate of business rate appeals in its annual report for 2009-10 but not in its 2010-11 annual report.

David Gauke: The non-mandatory content of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) annual report varies from year to year. The operational commentary in the agency's 2010-11 annual report was less than it had been in past years, in part due to the VOA's commitment to publish a wider range of more detailed information.
	The VOA now produces a number of Official Statistics on their website:
	www.voa.gov.uk
	to provide detailed information on the work and performance of the agency.
	Statistics on the number of formal rating list challenges received, outstanding and settled are currently produced on a quarterly basis at regional level, and have been published since May 2010. A breakdown by local (billing) authority area is published annually, with details for 2010-11 published in May 2011, and a similar breakdown on a quarterly basis is planned from April 2012.

VAT

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the effect on (a) the economy as a whole and (b) levels of consumer spending of reducing the rate of value added tax to 17.5 per cent.

David Gauke: holding answer 12 December 2011
	Sustainable public finances will support the economy in the medium-term.
	Decisive action taken by the Government in the spending review and June Budget, including the increase in VAT, will put the public finances and spending on a sustainable footing.

VAT: Energy

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of increased VAT receipts arising from the increase in energy bills.

David Gauke: No direct estimate has been made. However, if expenditure on domestic fuel was funded by less spending on goods and services that attract the 20% standard rate of VAT, HMRC would receive less VAT revenue, since domestic fuel and power is taxed at the reduced rate of 5%.
	In its 2011 November Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR assumes that higher utility prices will result in a lower share of expenditure which is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20% in future years.

VAT: Fraud

Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs action against VAT fraud does not penalise small and medium-sized enterprises.

David Gauke: The Government are committed to helping small and medium-sized businesses grow and prosper and HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) customer-centric business strategy supports the vast majority of businesses that try to get their tax affairs right. Using a risk-based approach to tackling VAT fraud ensures that the deliberate rule breakers are appropriately targeted which is important in creating a level playing field for honest businesses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Attendance Allowance: Glasgow

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Glasgow South West constituency received attendance allowance in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Maria Miller: The information is contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Attendance allowance recipients in Glasgow South West parliamentary constituency, as at the dates shown 
			 As at May  each year Number 
			 2011 3,140 
			 2010 3,240 
			 2009 3,300 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended for example if they are in hospital. 3. These figures are published on the Departments Tabulation Tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/aa/tabtool_aa.html Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data

Carer's Allowance: Glasgow

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Glasgow South West constituency received carer's allowance in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Maria Miller: The answer is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Recipients of carer's allowance in Glasgow South West parliamentary constituency as at the dates shown 
			 As at May  each year Total 
			 2011 1,390 
			 2010 1,300 
			 2009 1,220 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended. 3. These figures are published on the Departments Tabulation Tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/aa/tabtool_aa.html Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data

Children: Maintenance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) mean and (b) maximum length of time was between a parent no longer being liable to make child maintenance payments and those payments no longer being deducted from the parent's salary in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Susan Park
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. As the Child Maintenance Commissioner is currently away I am responding on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) mean and (b) maximum length of time was between a parent no longer being liable to make child maintenance payments and those payments no longer being deducted from the parent's salary in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	Unfortunately information is not readily available on the number of cases where a Deduction from Earnings Order is in place where maintenance continued to be deducted from the earnings of a non-resident parent, even though the maintenance liability had been settled. The requested information could be provided only at costs that exceed the disproportionate cost limit of £800 for parliamentary questions.
	I am sorry I could not be more helpful on this occasion.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Chris Grayling: A total of 12 jobs were transferred from DWP, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies to the private sector in 2010-11. The transfers were from Remploy. The 12 employees worked in Remploy's CCTV Function and transferred out to the private sector employer under TUPE when the work transferred.
	In addition some aspects of the support given to claimants of jobseeker’s allowance have been reformed and certain work that was previously carried out in-house has moved to private providers under the Work programme. Staff previously involved in this area of work were re-deployed to other frontline roles.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions entered into a contract with Addison Lee plc on 1 May 2010 for a period of two years for the provision of a taxi sourcing, booking, delivery and management service.
	The contract is for the provision of vehicles for the transportation of staff for business purposes only for journeys originating within the M25 (and extending out to local airports).
	Prior to May 2010 there was no contract in place for taxi provision; vehicles were either provided ad-hoc via local arrangements or via the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA).
	The total taxi and GCDA spend for the period May 2010 to April 2011 was £1.77 million compared to expenditure of £2.77 million for the comparable period from May 2009, ie a 36% reduction. The expenditure for May to December 2011 was £0.97 million, a further in year reduction of 18%.

Departmental Work Experience

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work experience or traineeship schemes his Department offers to minority groups.

Chris Grayling: My Department offers internships to graduates and undergraduates through the Summer Diversity Internship Programme (SDIP). The programme is aimed at black and minority ethnic university students and those from lower socio-economic groups and seeks to provide talented candidates with six to nine week training placements in Government Departments. My Department offered eight internships across the Department in 2011.
	My Department also participates in the two week Civil Service Whitehall Internship Programme which was announced through the Social Mobility Strategy in April 2011. This programme provides Year 12 College level students with an opportunity to undertake a two week work experience placement in a Government Department. The programme is designed to increase professional experience and workplace skills and is aimed at students from under-represented backgrounds. My Department offered seven internships on this programme for 2012.
	Of the 109 apprentices who joined my Department this year, 69 preferred not to classify their ethnic background. Of the 40 who declared their ethnic background, eight classified themselves as non-white.
	Of the 752 people who have applied for Work Experience placements in my Department and who have answered the ethnic background question, 232 are from minority ethnic backgrounds. As forms for Work Experience are completed by all applicants anonymously on a voluntary basis, it has not been possible to extract information on Work Experience starts only. The forms are extracted on receipt and collated separately for equal opportunity information on all applicants regardless of whether they have started, withdrawn or are waiting to start.

Disability Living Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants of disability living allowance who have applied for employment and support allowance have been (a) refused the benefit, (b) placed in the work-related activity group and (c) placed in the support group.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Disability Living Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people in the support group of employment and support allowance are also in receipt of disability living allowance.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Employment and support allowance (ESA) by phase of claim and those also in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA)—May 2011 
			   Phase of ESA claim 
			  Total Unknown Assessment phase Support group Work related activity 
			 All ESA 662,230 56,470 323,920 72,710 209,140 
			 ESA with DLA 187,180 10,950 44,320 47,720 84,180 
			 % with DLA 28.3 19.4 13.7 65.6 40.3 
			 Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Percentages are shown to the nearest decimal place. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 3. Phase/stage of ESA claim is only available from February 2010 onwards. The phase is derived from payment details held on the source system. Where the claimant is not in receipt of any benefit payment then the stage of benefit is shown as unknown. 4. DLA caseloads show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Employment Agencies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 594W, on employment agencies, how much of the £2,793,948.00 spent on recruitment agencies was spent on agency (a) fees and (b) staff.

Chris Grayling: It is not possible to provide the information requested because it would prejudice the commercial interests of both the Department and our suppliers. Withholding the information protects the ability of the Department to obtain services on the best possible commercial terms and the legitimate commercial interests of our suppliers.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has provided briefing to journalists on data relating to the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme prior to its official publication in the last three months.

Chris Grayling: Official Statistics on Mandatory Work Activity are scheduled for publication from February 2012. It is the Department's policy not to release official statistics ahead of their pre-announced release time.

Employment: Young People

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the youth contract on overall levels of employment.

Chris Grayling: The Youth Contract will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for young people, including job subsidies, apprenticeships and work experience placements.
	Job subsidy programmes have an impact on the labour market; for example, OECD research from 2005 found that private sector subsidised employment programmes frequently have a positive impact on employment(1). However, the full impact of this package of measures on the level of employment will depend on decisions on the detail of provision which are not yet finalised. The Department is currently developing an evaluation strategy for the Youth Contract.
	(1) OECD (2005), “Labour Market Programmes and Activation Strategies: Evaluating the Impacts”, OECD Employment Outlook, p. 173-208.

Employment: Young People

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Work programme providers that place young people in jobs through the youth contract will receive a payment in addition to the wage incentive paid to the employer.

Chris Grayling: The contractual arrangements for Work programme providers contain payments for securing job outcomes. The payment of wage incentives to employers as part of the Youth Contract will not be accompanied by any payments to Work programme providers in addition to any payments they are due under the terms of their contract.

Housing Benefit

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each London borough has spent on transition payments to assist private sector tenants whose rent is above the maximum housing benefit allowable for their accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: As a Department we have made available extra funding to private sector tenants through discretionary housing payments (DHPs). These are payments that provide claimants with further financial assistance when a local authority (LA) considers that help with housing costs is needed.
	To ease the transition to the reformed local housing allowance scheme the Government have increased their contribution to DHPs by £130 million over the spending review period.
	For the current financial year 2011-12 the Department has made available £8,181,054 across the London authorities, which is an increase of over 80% compared to 2010-11, to contribute towards discretionary housing payments. In 2012-13, the Government contribution across the London authorities will rise to £20,298,344.
	Notes:
	DWP has made available £30 million in 2011-12 towards discretionary housing payments (DHPs), an increase of £10 million from previous years. In 2012-13 the Government are making available £60 million.
	Local authorities can spend a total of 2.5 times their allocated Government contribution on DHPs.
	The following table shows the Government contribution towards DHPs for each London authority in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Government contribution 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 City of London 1,811 3,427 11,168 
			 Camden 165,117 330,258 703,028 
			 Greenwich 316,362 345,536 470,249 
			 Hackney 129,158 292,211 817,525 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 127,260 219,084 476,762 
			 Islington 85,987 162,478 496,069 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 153,170 463,789 1,381,186 
			 Lambeth 133,903 239,142 482,259 
			 Lewisham 136,284 253,914 609,034 
			 Southwark 132,475 166,711 331 ,962 
			 Tower Hamlets 132,770 218,048 469,585 
			 Wandsworth 82,990 222,607 613,175 
			 Westminster 226,492 1,104,144 3,748,603 
			 Barking & Dagenham 130,978 140,486 303,204 
			 Barnet 212,485 367,785 805,443 
			 Bexley 56,482 83,039 158,342 
			 Brent 226,149 539,188 1,642,653 
			 Bromley 70,046 122,441 226,883 
			 Croydon 168,849 269,981 676,991 
			 Ealing 225,063 382,232 960,814 
			 Enfield 147,468 275,082 727,496 
			 Haringey 281,565 366,870 853,168 
			 Harrow 101,302 150,295 316,372 
			 Havering 47,313 87,807 164,932 
			 Hillingdon 111,401 170,664 335,826 
			 Hounslow 76,489 141,822 320,788 
			 Kingston upon Thames 46,753 85,704 168,750 
			 Merton 101,942 136,336 263,862 
			 Newham 238,814 266,262 523,047 
			 Redbridge 96,694 180,476 384,741 
			 Richmond upon Thames 104,071 137,113 202,337 
			 Sutton 58,171 89,521 179,625 
			 Waltham Forest 153,328 166,601 472,465 
			 London total 4,479,142 8,181,054 20,298,344 
			 GB total 20,000,000 30,000,000 60,000,000

Housing Benefit

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit by (a) value and (b) percentage was paid to tenants in (i) social housing, (ii) private landlords and (iii) other forms of tenure in each of the last five years.

Steve Webb: The information is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			 Table 1: Total housing benefit expenditure by tenure type, 2006-07 to 2010-11 
			 £ million 
			 Tenure type 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Social Housing 9,918 10,346 10,827 11,844 12,214 
			 Private Landlord 4,276 4,698 5,624 7,572 8,678 
			 Other 647 688 653 573 537 
			 Total 14,841 15,732 17,103 19,989 21,429 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Percentage of total  housing benefit  expenditure spent on each tenure type, 2006-07 to 2010-11 
			 Tenure type 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Social Housing 66.8 65.8 63.3 59.3 57.0 
			 Private Landlord 28.8 29.9 32.9 37.9 40.5 
			 Other 4.4 4.4 3.8 2.9 2.5 
			 Note: In this response, 'other forms of tenure' covers households living in temporary accommodation. 'Social Housing' covers both Registered Social Landlords (RSL) and local authority (LA) properties.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the (a) actual and (b) percentage change in the number of households in receipt of local housing allowance (i) in total and (ii) from claimants in work in each local authority area since April 2011.

Steve Webb: A breakdown by each local authority of the figures requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Figures for claimants in work are only available for recipients who are not also on a passported benefit.
	Passported benefits are income support, jobseekers allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit).
	Non-passported recipients represent around one third of all housing benefit recipients.

Independent Living Fund

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what responses from users his Department received on its consultation on the Independent Living Fund.

Maria Miller: As announced in my written statement on 5 December 2011, Official  Report, column 8WS, the consultation on the future of the Independent Living Fund should be placed in the wider context of the reform of the wider care and support system, and will therefore take place in spring 2012, alongside the publication of the planned White Paper on the future of the care and support system in England. The consultation will allow users the opportunity to set out their thoughts on how their care and support needs should be supported in the future.

Independent Living Fund

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he used the criteria of sustainability when making his decision to abolish the Independent Living Fund.

Maria Miller: The Government have not abolished the Independent Living Fund. On 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 85WS, I announced that the fund would remain permanently closed to new users, that existing users would be supported until the end of this parliament, and that we would consult on how they would be supported beyond 2015. That decision was based on an assessment that it was no longer sustainable financially or in terms of equity to administer an increasing amount of social care funding through a cash-limited discretionary trust, and that the care and support of disabled people is met equitably as part of local authorities' broader statutory responsibility, independent living strategies and in line with local priorities and accountability.

Independent Living Fund

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who received funding from the Independent Living Fund pay (a) income tax and (b) national insurance contributions; what the monetary value was to the Exchequer of receipts in each such case; and what proportion such receipts were of the total value of the Independent Living Fund in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: Neither the Independent Living Fund nor the Department for Work and Pensions have access to income tax or national insurance contribution records for any of the users of the fund.

Industrial Health and Safety

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive is required to conduct an investigation into a workplace incident within a set period of time.

Chris Grayling: HSE is not required to conduct an investigation into a workplace incident within a set period of time. HSE aims to progress investigations as quickly as possible, and has management arrangements, policies and procedures to ensure that an investigation is thorough, all reasonable lines of inquiry are pursued, and is conducted efficiently and effectively.

Industrial Health and Safety

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Health and Safety Executive will publish its report into its investigation of the incident at the PHS Waste Management site in Burscough.

Chris Grayling: HSE does not routinely publish its investigation reports. Information about the HSE Investigation will be available on request once any criminal proceedings have been concluded.

Industrial Health and Safety

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timetable has been of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation of the incident at the PHS Waste Management site in Burscough since the beginning of the investigation.

Chris Grayling: HSE's initial inquiries commenced within hours of HSE being notified of the incident. HSE inspectors were on site to commence the investigation the following day. HSE managers have kept the investigation under regular review in line with HSE's investigation procedures to ensure that it was actively pursued to completion. The HSE investigation is now complete, and a decision whether to pursue criminal proceedings for breaches of health and safety law will be made within weeks.

Industrial Health and Safety: Asthma

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has of the number of workplace inspections conducted by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last 10 years concerned with the risk of occupational asthma due to exposure to flour dust.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of 8 December 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Esther Chilam.

Chris Grayling: Following a thorough search of the Department's correspondence system, we are unable to locate this letter.

Occupational Pensions

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will amend the qualifying criteria for pension schemes eligible for auto-enrolment to include (a) a cap on the level of charges that may be levied and (b) a requirement for schemes to be signatories to the UK Stewardship Code.

Steve Webb: We do not see a need to amend the qualifying criteria in the Pensions Act 2008 to set a charge cap or include additional requirements to meet the UK Stewardship Code. Government have already set clear guidance about the standards we expect all schemes used for automatic enrolment to meet. This guidance will help deliver good outcomes for members by stipulating how each scheme's default fund (i.e. the investment fund individuals will be enrolled into if they make no active choice) should be managed.
	On charges, initial evidence ahead of the roll-out of auto enrolment suggests that the creation of NEST with its relatively low charges, together with competition in the market, is pushing administration fees down. For example, we have seen pension providers offering products for automatic enrolment with lower than average charges. So we do not see that there is a need for a cap at the moment.
	If we see charges going up, however, Government will consider using reserve powers to set a cap on administration fees in automatic enrolment schemes.

Pensions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has assessed the ruling of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals for the Southern District of New York of 19 September 2011 on Aguinda v. Chevron; and whether he has any plans to introduce a fiduciary duty on pension fund trustees to consider social and environmental matters.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 17 October 2011, Official Report, columns 643-44W.

Personal Independence Payment

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has determined the location for the work relating to administration of the personal independence payment.

Maria Miller: We are currently working to establish the details of how and where the personal independence payment will be delivered.

Social Fund

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales took out loans using the social fund in each year for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: Information relating specifically to Barnsley Central and South Yorkshire cannot be provided. Information relating to Yorkshire and Humberside, England and Wales is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of crisis and budgeting loans by area in the past three years 
			  Crisis loans Budgeting loans 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 126,900 198,400 228,700 110,100 115,500 112,200 
			 England 1,580,900 2,151,900 2,169,900 898,400 987,500 914,500 
			 Wales 113,300 155,400 142,800 71,400 79,700 70,400 
			 Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. Figures are for applications received, not for the number of people who made an application, and for initial awards made, not the number of people who received an initial award. (Some people made more than one application or received more than one initial award.) 
		
	
	
		
			 3. If an applicant receives an initial award and this award is increased on first review in the same month as the initial award was made, then the Policy, Budget and Management Information System (PBMIS) does not count the initial award and the review award separately, but counts one award on the one application. However, if a first review award is made in a later month than the initial award, then PBMIS counts two awards on the one application. Similarly, if an initial or first review award is increased by the Independent Review Service, then all awards made in the same month on one application, count as one award. However, if an initial award or any review award(s) on one application are made in different months, then PBMIS will count one award for each month in which an initial or review award was made. Because of this counting method, only the numbers of initial awards have been given.

Social Fund: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent from the social fund in Liverpool in 2011.

Steve Webb: The social fund budget area that covers Liverpool is Greater Liverpool and Cheshire. Expenditure from Greater Liverpool and Cheshire budget for each of the component parts of the discretionary and regulated social fund for 2011 is shown in the following table. The figures give the total expenditure for January to December 2011.
	
		
			  Expenditure (£) 
			 Community care grants 7,777,500 
			 Crisis loans 10,133,200 
			 Budgeting loans 26,172,800 
			 Funeral payments 3,018,500 
			 Sure Start maternity grants 2,659,500 
			 Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System (for total number of awards for the Greater Liverpool and Cheshire Social Fund Budget Area). 
		
	
	The four Liverpool parliamentary constituencies (Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree and Liverpool West Derby) are covered by the Crosby weather station. The estimated expenditure on cold weather payments in 2011 for the benefit units covered by the Crosby weather station is given in the following table. There were no triggers in 2011 for this weather station.
	
		
			  Expenditure (£) 
			 Cold weather payments 0 
			 Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/national statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/national statistics and there are some issues with the data; for example, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units rather than to households or individuals. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. 3. The weather stations listed also cover an area that is not part of the Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree and Liverpool West Derby parliamentary constituencies. 4. The estimated number of benefit units which have received cold weather payments relates to the entire area that the weather station covers, not just to that in the listed parliamentary constituencies. 5. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest £100. Source: Department for Work and Pensions records of the triggers to weather stations up to 31 December 2011 and estimated numbers of potential qualifiers by weather station.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claims affected by the benefit cap he expects to have had a duration prior to introduction of the cap of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to two years, (d) two years to five years and (e) five years or more.

Chris Grayling: On 23 January 2012 the Department published an updated impact assessment for the household benefit cap, which estimated that in Great Britain 67,000 households would be affected by the cap, in the first year of its implementation (the financial year 2013-14). Following the concessions won in the House of Commons on 1 February, these figures are of course subject to change ahead of the Welfare Reform Bill gaining Royal Assent.
	On the basis of the impact assessment, the following table shows the proportion of households affected by the cap estimated to have been receiving benefits (a) less than six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to two years, (d) two years to five years and (e) five years or more.
	
		
			 Length of time Proportion of households capped (%) 
			 Less than six months 19 
			 Six months to a year 12 
			 A year to two years 14 
			 Two years to five years 23 
			 Five years or more 32 
		
	
	Estimates are based on a scan of administrative records held by the Department for Work and Pensions on benefit recipients in February 2011.
	Our estimates of the number of households that might be affected by the cap do not take account of any change in household behaviour. We will use the time before the benefit cap takes effect to work with those affected. This will include support from Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme, starting from April this year. We will provide additional discretionary housing funding for local authorities of up to £80 million in 2013-14, and a further £50 million in 2014-15, to help hard cases.

Social Security Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households which received benefits above the benefit cap in each local authority area; and how many such households he estimates have benefit entitlements of (a) less than £50 above the benefit cap, (b) less than £100 above the benefit cap and (c) more than £100 above the benefit cap in each local authority area.

Chris Grayling: On 23 January 2012 the Department published an updated impact assessment for the household benefit cap, which estimated that in Great Britain 67,000 households would be affected by the cap, in the first year of its implementation (the financial year 2013-14). Following the concessions won in the House of Commons on 1 February, these figures are of course subject to change ahead of the Welfare Reform Bill gaining Royal Assent.
	On the basis of the impact assessment, the table, which has been placed in the Library, shows the number of households who receive above the benefit cap that are expected to be affected by the benefit cap in 2013-14 and have entitlements of (a) between £0 to £100 above the benefit cap and (b) more than £100 above the benefit cap in each local authority area.
	The impact assessment assumes that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In fact, in all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme to move as many into work as possible.
	The table numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.
	Areas with fewer than 100 households affected are denoted by "..", as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas. For this reason, figures will not sum to the total number of households affected in the January 2012 impact assessment for the household benefit cap.

Social Security Benefits: Foreign Workers

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many migrants to the UK who claimed working age benefits were (a) aged between 16 and 24 years old and (b) from the Commonwealth in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
	(a) The number of DWP working age benefit claimants who were non-UK nationals at the point of registration for a national insurance number between 16 and 24-years-old, as at February 2011 was 18,560.
	(b) The numbers of DWP working age benefit claimants who from the Commonwealth, as at February 2011, are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Total 
			 Old Commonwealth 6,040 
			 New Commonwealth 114,730 
			 Non Commonwealth 237,370 
			 Total 371,020 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics do not provide a measure of non-UK nationals currently claiming benefits based on their current nationality. The statistics do provide an estimate of the number of people currently claiming benefit who, when they first registered for a NINo (that is, first entered the labour market), were non-UK nationals. 2. There are a small proportion of claimants where the nationality is unknown (non- UK), these are included in the total only. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 
		
	
	
		
			 4. Age group 16 to 24 includes 16-year-olds and 24-year-olds. 5. Old Commonwealth: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa. New Commonwealth:. Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldive Islands, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Western, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia. Source: DWP: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and HMRC National Insurance and Pay as you Earn System (NPS).

Social Security Benefits: Foreign Workers

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many legal migrants are claiming working age benefits after living in the UK for (a) less than (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) five years and (iv) 10 years and (b) more than 10 years.

Chris Grayling: DWP has recently published statistics on the nationality of benefit claimants at the point of their registration for a national insurance number. These indicate that, at February 2011, 371,000 (6.4%) of DWP working age benefits claimants were non-UK nationals when they registered for their national insurance number. Information on those who have been living in the UK for a set duration before claiming working age benefits is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Further information can be found in the full statistics release ‘Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP benefit claimants’ at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jan-2012/dwp005-12.shtml

Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants called in for work availability interviews were diagnosed with a mental illness in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Autism

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of apprenticeships were undertaken by people with (a) autism and (b) disabilities in (i) the most recent period for which figures are available, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2005.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of apprenticeships are being undertaken by people with (a) autism and (b) other disabilities; and how this figure has changed over the last (i) year, (ii) two years and (iii) five years.

John Hayes: I have made data available in the Libraries of the House showing the number of apprenticeship programme starts by learning difficulty and/or disability for 2006/07 to 2010/11, the latest academic years for which final data are available.
	Information on the number of apprenticeship programme starts is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 January 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by equality and diversity characteristics are available in Supplementary Tables to the SFR:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/

Business: Disclosure of Information

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  whether his Department supports the European proposal for extractives companies to disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and whether it has a preferred definition of “project” for the purpose of this legislation;
	(2)  whether his Department supports the European proposals for greater transparency in the extractives sector; and what its policy is on (a) possible country-based exemptions from the proposed legislation and (b) a level of materiality that would be appropriate for the purpose of this legislation.

Norman Lamb: The Government made clear their support for EU action to improve transparency and reporting in the extractive industries in the Chancellor's statement following the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting in February 2011, and in the speech of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in Lagos in July 2011.
	We are considering the EU's proposals and the views of business and other interested groups on them.

Business: Disclosure of Information

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the European Commission proposal that extractive companies should disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: We are considering the EU's proposals to improve transparency and reporting in the extractive industries and the views of business and other interested groups on them.

Business: Equipment

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the levels of spare capacity in businesses; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such spare capacity on levels of planned investment in plant and machinery in the next 12 months.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not make a formal assessment of the level of spare capacity and planned investment in plant and machinery among businesses, as this is the role of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility. However, when forming policy, including around investment, the Department takes into account a range of views, including those of the OBR, Bank of England, leading academics and private forecasters.

Copyright

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in implementing the recommendation of the Hargreaves Review to place a statutory obligation on the Intellectual Property Office to use the intellectual property system to promote innovation and growth.

Norman Lamb: The Government have stated that they will explore options for a future role for the Intellectual Property Office that involves a strengthened focus on innovation and growth, a greater emphasis on publicly available evidence, and an enhanced ability to promote competitive markets while retaining ministerial oversight of intellectual property policy. The Government are currently considering these options, with a view to publishing proposals shortly.

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Norman Lamb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010/11. I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond directly to the right hon. Member. This information is not held by BIS in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
	Letter from John Alty, dated 27 January 2012
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 23 January 2012, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	This is a nil return from the IPO.
	Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 27 January 2012
	The Minister of State. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.
	The Insolvency Service has not transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.
	Letter from David Williams
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. (91899)
	The UK Space Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not transferred any jobs into the private sector during 2010-11.
	Letter from David Evans, dated 26 January 2012
	I write in response to the Parliamentary Question which you tabled on 23 January 2012.
	Land Registry is an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. I can confirm that during 2010-11, one post was transferred from our organisation to the private sector.
	Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 25 January 2012
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 23 January 2012, UTN 91899 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	Companies House did not transfer any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.
	Letter from Vanessa Lawrence, dated 30 January 2012
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to contact you in response to your parliamentary question asking how many jobs in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and its agencies and non-departmental bodies for which BIS are responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.
	Ordnance Survey constantly reviews its operations in order to ensure it is delivering best value for money for the taxpayer. This includes considering outsourcing operations to the private sector where doing so would deliver clear benefits. In 2010-11 53 jobs were transferred to the private sector.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 25 January 2012
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 23 January 2012, UIN91899 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	During 2010-11, no jobs transferred from the Met Office to the private sector.
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 26 January 2012
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 23 January 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many jobs were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.
	NMO did not transfer any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.
	Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 6 February 2012
	Thank you for your question addressed to ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. (91899)
	Please be advised that for the years 2010 and 2011 there were no transfers from the Skills Funding Agency (or its predecessor body the Learning and Skills Council) to the private sector.

Economic and Social Science Research Council: Finance

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much he spent on funding the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) in the last year for which figures are available; what consideration he has given to the effect of the operation of the ESRC on the UK database industry; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) received £186.2 million total funding for the financial year 2011-12.
	ESRC investment in, and development of, national social science research provides data for social scientists, policymakers and practitioners, helping to shape and inform Government policy and business decisions for the benefit of the economy and society of the UK.
	ESRC has not funded research in the UK database industry although it does have interest in software development that supports data access and usability for social science research purposes.
	ESRC works with partners on the UK Data Forum to determine strategic priorities for the development of data resources within the social sciences and other areas of scientific inquiry. For example, the Economic and Social Data Service:
	http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/tools-and-resources/research-resources/data-services/esds.aspx
	provides economic and social data to users inside and outside of the academic community.

Economic Growth

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what supply side reforms his Department has considered; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of each measure on (a) economic growth and (b) productivity improvement.

Mark Prisk: A wide range of supply side reforms have and continue to be considered as part of the Government's wide reaching Growth Review programme. This aims to support enterprise and lay the foundations for a stronger and more balanced economy. A package of 137 supply-side measures was set out in ‘The Plan for Growth’, published at Budget 2011. In addition the Autumn Statement, 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, set out an additional package of over 140 supply-side measures, including supporting around £30 billion of new capital investment. In addition the Government are reforming public services—e.g. in Education—which may deliver productivity or growth benefits.
	In developing the Growth Review measures, we assessed the existing evidence base in relation to potential impacts including productivity and growth, as well as commissioning new research where limited evidence was available. A report on progress implementing the first set of Growth Review measures was set out alongside the Autumn Statement in November 2011. We have put in place a programme of work to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and impacts over the long-term.

Exports: Electronic Surveillance

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has considered extending export controls for the purposes of preventing the export of all surveillance equipment to repressive regimes; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The European Union has published an implementing Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012) which imposes new controls on the export of surveillance technology to Syria, and which came into force on 19 January 2012.
	The Government support the application of a similar approach towards Iran and will pursue this with EU colleagues, and we are also currently exploring how this issue may be addressed more broadly with our international partners.

Financial Services: Advisory Services

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of expenditure by each local authority (a) overall and (b) per head of population on debt and financial advice services in each of the last 10 years.

Bob Neill: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Further Education

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the further education sector of the projected decrease in adult learners; and what assessment he has made of the effect such a decline will have on institutional stability.

John Hayes: The Skills Investment Statement 2011-14 published in December 2011, confirmed that overall investment in adult FE and skills will be £3.8 billion in the 2012-13 financial year. It confirmed that Government investment will be focused on supporting high quality provision that delivers good value for money such as apprenticeships, with full Government subsidies for young adults, the low skilled and unemployed people on pre-employment training.
	The Skills Investment Statement also provided an illustrative forecast of learners aged 19 and over who could be supported by the Government funding with estimated numbers reducing from over 3.2 million in the 2011/12 academic year to over 2.8 million in the 2013/14 academic year.
	To maintain access to training in the absence of Government grant funding, FE colleges and providers are expected to continue to grow the level of co-investment from learners and employers. This will be facilitated through the introduction of FE loans for learners aged 24 and over undertaking level 3 or higher qualifications in the 2013/14 academic year.
	The Skills Funding Agency and the Young People’s Learning Agency jointly review the risk profile of institutions in the further education sector on a regular basis. The agencies use planned allocations and current performance alongside individual colleges’ financial forecasts to assess the impact that allocations could have on the financial stability of individual colleges, and use that information to assess what action or intervention may be required. Final allocations from each agency will be available at the end of March and will be used to update the view on the risk to the financial stability of institutions.

Further Education: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he has allocated to the provision of information, advice and guidance to prospective further education students affected by the introduction of tuition fee loans in further education.

John Hayes: The National Careers Service will provide information, advice and guidance on careers and learning, including sources of financial support for learning. It will be available to everyone online and by telephone helpline, with face to face careers guidance available to adults aged 19 and above, or 18 and above if in receipt of out of work benefits. The budget for the National Careers Service is £84.4 million in 2012-13.

Further Education: Safety

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to issue simplified guidance for further education colleges on health and safety; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: Responsibility for the health and safety of learners sits primarily with the college, training provider and employer who has taken on the trainee, and they must comply with the requirements of health and safety legislation. The Skills Funding Agency is responsible for allocating public funding to further education colleges, and supports learner health and safety through the contractual conditions which it imposes on those it funds. In line with the drive to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy on colleges, and following advice from the Health and Safety Executive, the agency has reviewed these contractual conditions so that colleges will not be required to do anything other than comply with the law. However, it is for colleges themselves to decide how to meet their legal obligations; and it is not the role of the agency to enforce health and safety legislation, to carry out inspections of providers, or to provide specialist advice or guidance about the arrangements which colleges should put in place.

Higher Education

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which institutions offer access to higher education courses in each subject area.

David Willetts: I am placing a list of institutions currently offering access to higher education courses by each subject area in the Libraries of the House.
	The list of providers is derived from the Quality Assurance Agency's (QAA's) access courses database, to which authorised validating agencies (AVAs) enter information about the subject classification for each course that they approve. AVAs work in partnership with colleges and universities. The subject classifications are defined by the QAA and are a development of the sector subject areas (SSAs) used by the further education sector.
	There are currently nearly 1,500 access to higher education courses recognised by the QAA in England and Wales and these are delivered by over 300 providers.
	Further information on access to HE programmes is available at the following website:
	www.accesstohe.ac.uk

Higher Education: Admissions

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education to identify barriers to adult students entering higher education by the (a) full-time and (b) part-time mode; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not had recent discussions with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) about barriers to adult students entering higher education.
	In the guidance from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to the Office of Fair Access (OFFA) issued in February 2011, the Government said they wanted to support mature students, that they would like institutions to consider such students within their overall approach to access, and would like OFFA to take account of their efforts in considering their access agreements. For the first time, we are making loans available to part time students to meet tuition costs.

Higher Education: North East

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2012, Official Report, column 408W, on higher education: North East, how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents in (a) Hartlepool constituency, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) the North East in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 15 January 2012; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle.

David Willetts: The information, provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and showing all the constituencies in the Tees Valley, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 All applicants to UCAS by the main 15 January deadline, by parliamentary constituency/region (1) 
			  Application cycle 
			  2010-11 (2) 2011-12 (3) 
			 Constituency:   
			 Darlington 665 614 
			 Hartlepool 796 665 
			 Middlesbrough 652 660 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 700 646 
			 Redcar 659 584 
			 Stockton North 662 568 
			 Stockton South 920 814 
			    
			 The Tees Valley 5,054 4,551 
			 The North East 19,026 16,887 
			 (1) Parliamentary constituency has been identified using the home postcode of the applicant, irrespective of their declared area of permanent residence. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013.

Manufacturing Industries: Lancashire

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage manufacturing in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency.

Mark Prisk: The Government have been encouraging manufacturing in Morecambe and Lunesdale and the surrounding area through the Regional Growth Fund (RGF). Funding has been provided to support investments by the Northern Tissue Group in Lancaster and for the Accelerating Business Growth in Lancashire initiative, which will provide county wide support targeted at advanced manufacturing. A £1 billion increase in the Regional Growth Fund was announced as part of the autumn statement.
	In addition, Lancashire has been allocated £13 million from the Growing Places Fund and the Department for Transport has given the go-ahead for Heysham-M6 link road to improve access to and from Heysham Port.
	Manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Morecambe and Lunesdale can take advantage of our new streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio: eligible companies can gain support in areas such as training and skill development, resource efficiency, exploiting ideas, accessing international opportunities and growing your business. For example, we have just launched the Business Coaching for Growth programme, which aims to help up to 10,000 high growth businesses a year to address barriers to growth and grow more rapidly.
	Support is also available from the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which was announced on 3 January 2012 and offers manufacturing SMEs practical support on all aspects of manufacturing, including direct access to manufacturing experts with a proven track record.
	Finally, manufacturing companies in Morecambe and Lunesdale will be eligible to apply for the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, announced in December 2011, which will support investment in training to improve skills as well as expenditure on research and development and capital equipment.

Manufacturing Industries: Manpower

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what comparative assessment he has made of the number of people employed directly in the manufacturing industry in (a) the west midlands and (b) other regions of England; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: According to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics there were 290,000 work force jobs in the west midlands in the third quarter of 2011, 11.3% of the total.
	Figures for other regions in the UK are given in the following table.
	The north-west has the largest number of manufacturing jobs at 315,000, or 9.6% of the total number of jobs in the north-west, while London has the fewest at 112,000, or 2.3% of its total number of jobs.
	
		
			 Work force jobs in manufacturing—Q3 2011 
			 Region Number work force in manufacturing (thousand) Percentage of total work force jobs in manufacturing (%) 
			 North East 123 10.8 
			 North West 315 9.6 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 279 14.4 
			 East Midlands 302 13.9 
			 West Midlands 290 11.3 
			 East Midlands 203 7.1 
			 London 112 2.3 
			 South East 285 6.5 
			 South West 206 7.9 
			 England 2,114 8.0 
			 Wales 142 10.5 
			 Scotland 172 6.6 
			 Northern Ireland 82 9.8 
			 United Kingdom 2,511 8.0 
			 Source: ONS work force jobs

Manufacturing Industries: Olympic Games 2012

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote (a) manufacturing and (b) export capabilities during the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: A key part of our plans for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the ‘Make it in Great Britain’ campaign, which launched on 15t November 2011. This will aim to raise the profile of manufacturing; and to promote the excellent career and investment opportunities that it presents. As part of the campaign, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will work with UK industry to stage a high-profile interactive exhibition of cutting-edge UK manufacturing at the Science Museum next summer to coincide with the Games. The campaign builds on the excellent work being done as part of the See Inside Manufacturing programme—and the exhibitions of innovative UK- manufactured products that have been staged in BIS in recent months.
	The British Business Embassy at Lancaster House will use the unprecedented levels of international attention the UK will receive from London 2012 to capture the imagination of global business leaders visiting the UK and showcase UK plc. Over time, this together with UKTI's broader Olympics programme aims to generate more than £1 billion value added for the UK economy and help secure Britain's Olympic economic legacy. It will showcase the UK's investment proposition through a series of high level, high impact, high quality seminars, events and receptions.
	The Global Investment Conference will be held on the eve of the Olympic Games and see 200 of the world's leading business leaders meet with Government Ministers to discuss the opportunities for global investment and economic growth in the coming year.
	On each day of the Olympics the British Business Embassy will host a programme of Business Summits focusing on a different high growth sector. There will also be a programme during the Paralympics.
	Overall the programme will provide a platform for over 3,000 UK based companies to seize the opportunity of the Olympics to do business.
	The British Business Club launched September 2011 is an online resource for UK and overseas businesses that includes details of networking events, future business opportunities and potential partners. The content will not only include business activity around the 2012 Games, but also other future international sporting events.

Manufacturing Industries: Publicity

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his priorities are for promoting manufacturing in 2012.

Mark Prisk: Manufacturing is at the heart of the Government's plans to rebalance the economy and deliver sustainable growth. We are taking action to address the commercialisation of technology, improve manufacturing productivity, access the right skills, and promote the image of the sector. We are working with the sector in delivering on these ambitions and good progress is being made.
	In February, we are holding a major manufacturing summit at the Bristol and Bath Science Park. This follows last year's inaugural summit and will again bring together key figures from Government and industry to review progress to date and the priorities going forward. A key part of our plans for 2012 is the ‘Make it in Great Britain’ campaign, which launched on 15 November 2011. This will aim to raise the profile of manufacturing; and to promote the excellent career and investment opportunities that it presents. As part of the campaign, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will work with UK industry to stage a high-profile interactive exhibition of cutting-edge UK manufacturing at the Science Museum next summer to coincide with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. The campaign builds on the excellent work being done as part of the See Inside Manufacturing programme—and the exhibitions of innovative UK- manufactured products that have been staged in BIS in recent months.

Pensions

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Fair Pensions report entitled Protecting our Best Interests: Rediscovering Fiduciary Obligation on clarifying investors' fiduciary duties.

Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has commissioned Professor John Kay to conduct an independent review of investment in UK equity markets and its impact on the long-term performance and governance of UK quoted companies. The review will consider a number of the issues raised by the Fair Pensions report. It will publish an interim report later this month, and a final report, with specific recommendations, in the summer.
	The Fair Pensions report also makes a specific recommendation on corporate reporting. My Department conducted a consultation on the future of narrative reporting last autumn, and will set out proposed next steps in due course.

Regional Development Agencies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the value of the liabilities held by each regional development agency (RDA); and which liabilities are held by each RDA;
	(2)  what liabilities are held by each regional development agency (RDA) in the form of (a) land and property holdings, (b) residual agreements, (c) expenditure connected with the winding-up of all RDAs and (d) other liabilities.

Mark Prisk: The liabilities of the eight regional development agencies (RDAs) outside London shown in their accounts, available in the Library of the House, as at 31 March 2011 are as follows:
	
		
			 Summary of RDA liabilities 
			 £ million 
			  AWM EEDA EMDA NWDA ONE SEEDA SWRDA YF Total 
			 Non-current assets          
			 Investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates (net liabilities) 14.7 1.5 0.0 22.5 1.1 0.7 0.0 5.0 45.5 
			 Current liabilities          
			 Trade and other payables 69.6 29.4 47.8 141.4 73.6 31.5 101.9 99.6 594.8 
			 Non-current liabilities          
			 Provisions and other liabilities 2.2 1.4 78.3 5.8 10.1 1.3 2.9 3.3 105.3 
			 Total 86.5 32.3 126.1 169.7 84.8 33.5 104.8 107.9 745.6 
		
	
	The expenditure to which the current liabilities relate was recorded as a use of resources in the year ending 31 March 2011 and the liabilities should have been settled by now, in the ordinary course of business.
	RDA accounts record contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2011 as follows:
	
		
			 Summary of RDA contingent liabilities 
			 £ million 
			  AWM EEDA EMDA NWDA ONE SEEDA SWRDA YF Total 
			 Total 17.8 0.0 2.4 10.4 10.0 5.0 0.0 13.8 59.4 
		
	
	In some cases RDA accounts also describe unquantified contingent liabilities.
	The annual liability for the cost of the residual RDA office estate expected to transfer to BIS before 31 March 2012 is estimated as £6.9 million for 2012/13. This liability reduces over time as leases come to an end and will reduce further if BIS disposes of these properties or finds new tenants.
	The cost of RDAs' remaining, residual obligations under existing contracts is covered by existing budgets. Where contracts are transferring to successor bodies to oversee their completion, the appropriate budget cover is also being transferred.
	The estimates of the expenditure connected with the winding up of RDAs from 1 January 2012 are as follows:
	
		
			 Summary of RDA closure costs from 1 January 2012 
			 £ million 
			  AWM EEDA EMDA NWDA ONE SEEDA SWRDA YF Total 
			 Total 5.6 2.7 4.3 20.7 12.6 8.1 8.8 11.9 74.7 
		
	
	These estimates exclude expenses that will be recorded by BIS.

Research: EU Action

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on measures to protect the EU's science and research budget.

David Willetts: My ministerial colleagues and I remain in regular contact with our European counterparts over the future European research funding programmes and have participated in several discussions on this issue in the context of meetings of the Competitiveness Council.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the UK's progress towards meeting the Innovation Union target of spending 3% of gross domestic product on research and development.

David Willetts: The UK has not committed to meeting the Innovation Union target of spending 3% of gross domestic product on research and development (R&D). This is in line with the Government's policy not to implement such top-down targets.
	In June 2010, the European Council concluded that the Innovation Union policy priorities should be implemented according to national decision making procedures. As the UK's decision making procedure is not to have a target for R&D intensity, the decision not to commit to the Innovation Union target is consistent with the EC's conclusions.
	In December, the Government published their Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth. This set out a range of measures being implemented to enable innovative businesses in the UK. These measures include increasing the level of the Small Company R&D tax credit from 200% to 225% by April this year, increasing investment for the Technology Strategy Board to expand the Small Business Research Initiative and increased funding to the Smart programme which provides grants to companies for R&D projects.

Research: Science

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he 
	(1)  plans to take to encourage growth and innovation in UK biosciences;
	(2)  is taking to incentivise private investment in UK biosciences.

David Willetts: On 5 December 2010, the Prime Minister launched the 'Strategy for UK Life Sciences' which builds on many of the actions of the Growth Review. The strategy was launched alongside ‘Innovation Health and Wealth—Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS’, a review of innovation in the NHS by the NHS chief executive. Together they will encourage investment, drive innovation to improve patient care; and enable the life sciences sector to grow further.
	The strategy introduces a suite of fiscal measures to stimulate innovation and growth for start-ups and SMEs through to large global enterprise and includes £180 million for a new Bio-medical Catalyst Fund that will support the commercialisation of medical technologies across the research base and business. It will also incentivise early-stage investment to nurture innovative technologies from the academic and commercial sectors to attract private equity investment. We have also announced an expansion of the Smart (R&D grants), the SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) and the extension of the SME R&D Tax Credit to 225% from April 2012 and will launch the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme from 1 April 2012 to stimulate private investment into early stage companies.
	Measures from the Strategy include:
	£310 million to support the discovery, development and commercialisation of research, including £130 million for Stratified Medicine and £180 million for a Biomedical Catalyst Fund.
	Investing up to £10 million per annum, through the Technology Strategy Board, in a Cell Therapy Catapult Centre.
	Investing £75 million to expand the European Bioinformatics Institute to provide a new facility for biological data-storage which will support life sciences research and its translation.
	Through MHRA, working with industry and other international regulators to create a more enabling regulatory environment for the adoption of innovative manufacturing technology.
	Bringing forward in spring 2012 consultation proposals for an 'Early Access Scheme'.
	Empowering patients and delivering more choice with better and quicker access to innovative treatments through an enhanced web-based UK Clinical Trials Gateway and supporting patients to gain access to innovative treatments.
	Opening up access to anonymised patient data in a safe and secure way.
	Helping smaller high risk early stage companies by introducing this year a new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) offering a 50% income tax relief on investments. To kick start the scheme, the Government will offer a capital gains tax exemption on gains realised from the disposal of an asset in 2012/13 invested in SEIS in the same year.
	Introducing in 2013, an above the line R&D tax credit, to improve the visibility and certainty of R&D tax relief to attract large scale innovation in innovation. Details of how the relief will apply to Contract Research Organisations and others when routine R&D testing is subcontracted will be provided at a later date.
	We will provide further details on a simpler pre-clearance system for smaller companies (such as spin-outs) making their first claim.
	Links to the Strategy for Life Sciences and the NHS Chief Executives Review ‘Innovation Health and Wealth—Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS are:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/innovation/docs/s/11-1429-strategy-for-uk-life-sciences
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_131299

Student Loans Company: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether additional funding will be allocated to the Student Loans Company for the administration of further education student loans; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The model for administration of further education loans is being developed in partnership with the Student Loans Company (SLC) and the Skills Funding Agency. Where possible, we are seeking to build on existing systems and processes. All funding allocated to the SLC by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be shown in SLC's annual grant letter or supplementary funding letters issued on behalf of the UK Government Administrations, and will be published on the SLC website.

Students: Age

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the maximum number will be of students aged 24 years and over studying a level three or above qualification for the cohort in 2013-14.

John Hayes: The Department estimates that a total of 186,000 learners aged 24 and over will begin further education courses at level 3 and above in the 2013-14 financial year. This includes learners supported through loans, from when the policy is introduced at the start of the academic year, and those supported through existing grant funding arrangements prior to that. This is the Department’s best estimate of the number of learners who will be supported to undertake these qualifications; it has not produced estimates of the maximum number who would wish to do so.
	The Department’s estimates, and the underpinning analysis, are outlined in the consultation stage impact assessment “Further Education—Level 3+ Loans”, which can be accessed at the following link:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/f/11-1218-further-education-loans-impact-assessment
	A final stage impact assessment, containing updated estimates of learner numbers, will be published by May 2012.

Students: Finance

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the introduction of further education student loans will add to the student loan book in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

John Hayes: The amount that further education (FE) loans will add to the student loan book is dependent on the amount of loan that is taken out by individual learners. However, the total value of FE loans that can be awarded is constrained by the limits set in the spending review. These are £129 million in 2013-14 and £398 million in 2014-15. No budget for FE loans has been set for 2015-16, as this will be determined through a subsequent spending review process.

Students: Finance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact on women of the introduction of further education student loans for access courses; and what proportion of access students are female.

John Hayes: We are currently undertaking an equality impact assessment of the introduction of Further Education Loans from the 2013/14 academic year. This follows the screening equality impact assessment that was published in August 2011, alongside the Government's public consultation on the implementation of FE loans. We plan to publish the equality impact assessment by April 2012.
	Figures taken from the Individualised Learner Record show that 73% of Government-funded learners participating in Access to Higher Education courses in further education in England in 2010/11 were female.

Students: Finance

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of (a) doctoral, (b) taught masters and (c) research masters postgraduate degree course places in each subject area that will be funded by (i) the Higher Education Funding Council for England, (ii) the research councils and (iii) other organisations in the public sector in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The information requested is as follows:
	Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
	Estimates of the number of Postgraduate taught (PGT) Full Time Equivalent students (FTEs) to be counted in the HEFCE teaching methodology for England are shown in Table i. Estimates of 2012-13 postgraduate research (PGR) student numbers are not yet available.
	PGT numbers are broken down into the following broad subject areas:
	A. The clinical stages of medicine and dentistry courses and veterinary science.
	B. Laboratory-based subjects (science, pre-clinical stages of medicine and dentistry, engineering and technology).
	C. Subjects with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element.
	D. All other subjects.
	
		
			 Table i: Estimate of number of postgraduate taught (PGT) FTEs (English Institutions) 
			 Price Group Estimate of 2012-13 HEFCE-fundable and co-funded PGT FTEs 
			 A 2,271 
			 B 11,667 
			 C 34,456 
			 D 37,423 
			 Total 85,817 
			 Note: Data presented are institutional estimates/forecasts about students which may be recruited in 2012-13. 
		
	
	Research Councils
	Estimates of the number of Research Council postgraduate student new starts (2012-13) are shown in Table ii, with explanatory notes. The abbreviations are used:
	AHRC is the Arts and Humanities Research Council
	BBSRC is the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
	EPSRC is the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
	ESRC is the Economic and Social Research Council
	MRC is the Medical Research Council
	NERC is the Natural Environment Research Council
	STFC is the Science and Technology Facilities Council
	
		
			 Table ii: Estimate of Research Council postgraduate new starts 
			  Estimate of 2012-13 New Starts 
			 Council (a) Doctoral (b) Taught Masters (c) Research Masters 
			 AHRC 724 0 480 
			 BBSRC 405 0 110 
			 EPSRC 1,855 0 0 
			 ESRC 664 0 6 
			 MRC 276 0 0 
			 NERC 325 0 0 
			 STFC 225 0 0 
			 Total 4,474 0 596 
			 Notes: 1. The Research Councils provide a specific level of funding for postgraduate support. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) then decide how many students this supports. Historic funding patterns have been used to create the data in Table ii. 2. Actual student enrolments at HEIs may vary from these estimates if HEIs supplement Research Council funding with funds from other sources. The proportion of part-time and fees only students will also affect student numbers. 3. MRC figures do not include students funded directly in MRC units and institutes, or studentships awarded to medically qualified clinical researchers (~£18 million). In addition, PhD students may also be supported through larger Research Grants from some Research Councils. 4. The postgraduate student numbers split between individual Research Councils provides an estimate of the broad subject distribution of new postgraduate students.

Students: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of further education student loans on levels of (a) individual and (b) household debt in 2013-14.

John Hayes: The Government published an initial impact assessment of the introduction of further education loans in August 2011. This confirmed that the potential liability attributable to loans in 2013-14 is a maximum £129 million. The amount of loan a learner takes out will depend on the course they choose, and no learner will start to repay their loan until they are earning £21,000 or more. Repayments will be at 9% of income above this level, and any outstanding balance will be written off after 30 years. A full impact assessment will be published by May.

Students: Finance

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the (a) average size of student loan for further education and (b) total cost of students loans for further education students when such loans are introduced.

John Hayes: The average size of student loan for further education (FE) will depend on a range of factors which cannot be accurately predicted, including: the fees charged by colleges and training organisations, and the extent to which learners will make up front contributions to the cost of their course, reducing the amount of loan required. The consultation stage impact assessment “Further Education—Level 3+ Loans”, published in July 2011 can be accessed at the following link:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/f/11-1218-further-education-loans-impact-assessment
	The amount of FE loan repaid will depend on the learner’s income. For illustration, we have assumed that learners take out an average loan of £3,000; that their course starts in 2013/14 and lasts for two years, and the learner begins repayment in 2018 (to make the answer comparable with the related parliamentary questions 8948 and 8949). We have also assumed four different incomes of £21,000; £25,000; £30,000 and £35,000 in 2016 terms; that the incomes increase with general earnings growth beyond that year; and that the learner remains in full-time employment for the whole of the 30-year period.
	On this basis, the total amounts borrowed, the total repayments over the repayment period of 30 years and the total gross earnings for that period are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Initial earnings Amount borrowed Total amount repaid over 30 years (nominal) Total income over 30 years (nominal) 
			 £21,000 3,000 0 1,441,600 
			 £25,000 3,000 3,900 1,716,200 
			 £30,000 3,000 3,600 2,059,500 
			 £35,000 3,000 3,500 2,402,700

Students: Finance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on offering maintenance loans for further education when further education student loans are introduced in 2013-14.

John Hayes: Further education loans will be available for learners aged 24 and above studying at Level 3 or above. Most courses taken by these learners are considerably shorter than programmes of study in higher education. However, we recognise that some students with FE loans will need additional financial support.
	Funding will be available for colleges and training organisations to provide additional financial support for learners. In 2012-13 the amount of funding allocated for this purpose will be around £125 million. It is important that colleges and training organisations have the flexibility to respond to the needs of learners on an individual basis.

Technology: Research

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Technology Transfer Office system in the commercialisation of intellectual property;
	(2)  what plans he has to review the Technology Transfer Office system.

David Willetts: The Government have asked Professor Sir Tim Wilson, former vice-chancellor of the university of Hertfordshire and Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) board member, to undertake a review into how to make the UK the best place in the world for university-industry collaboration. Professor Wilson's review will cover the exploitation of collaborative research and innovation between businesses and universities. The report will be submitted to Government soon.

TICC Skill Centres: Redundancy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 292W, on TICC: redundancy, whether any of the 21 claims made to the Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service were made by recipients of ex-gratia compensation payments from public funds.

Norman Lamb: The Insolvency Service's Redundancy Payments Service no longer holds information on statutory payments made to former employees of TICC Ltd which went into liquidation on 18 November 2002. The files were destroyed in 2010 in line with the destruction of documents policy for destroying files seven years after the financial year in which payments were made.

TICC Skillcentres: Redundancy

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1079W, on TICC skill centres: redundancy, whether any civil servants made redundant by TICC Ltd did not receive ex-gratia payments.

Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the now Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) on 12 January 2012, Official Report, columns 412-13W.
	It is now more than 20 years since the company went into liquidation and there are no known records of any redundant TICC Ltd employees who did not receive ex-gratia payments. A search of all the remaining documents to find any records of redundant TICC Ltd employees who did not receive ex-gratia payments could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost with no certainty of finding any such records (if any previously existed).

Veterinary Medicine: Fees and Charges

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will discuss with the Office of Fair Trading the pricing of (a) general practice and (b) specialist veterinary fees. [R]

Norman Lamb: I have no plans to do so.
	Ministers do not have powers to direct the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate specific cases. As an independent authority, the OFT has discretion to investigate cases according to its prioritisation principles.
	However, I understand that the OFT is aware of your concerns and is considering the points which you have brought to its attention.

HEALTH

Abortion: Counselling

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hon. Members Ministers in his Department have met recently to discuss abortion counselling (a) individually and (b) at all-party parliamentary group meetings.

Anne Milton: I have met with the following Members of a cross party group to discuss counselling options for women considering abortion: the hon. Members for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter); Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott); Congleton (Fiona Bruce); Birkenhead (Mr Field); Cambridge (Dr Huppert); Corby (Louise Mensch); Mid Bedfordshire (Nadine Dorries); Peterborough (Mr Jackson); Wells (Tessa Munt); Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake); and the Baroness Gould of Potternewton.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Travel

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the maximum distance a person should have to travel to reach a hospital accident and emergency department.

Simon Burns: The Department has not issued guidance on the maximum distance a person should have to travel to reach a hospital accident and emergency department.
	It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure that there is appropriate provision of urgent and emergency services that are responsive to people's needs.

Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the response times of the East Midlands Ambulance Service in Northamptonshire in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of response times to emergency calls (a) by the East Midlands Ambulance Service and (b) nationally in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the ambulance service with the fastest response time in England.

Simon Burns: Data are only available at Ambulance Service level, so it is not possible to provide figures for response times specifically in Northamptonshire.
	In November 2011, the most recent period for which figures are available, East Midlands Ambulance Service responded to 76.5% of category A calls within eight minutes. 92.4% of category A calls requiring transport received this within 19 minutes.
	In the same period, the national figure was 77% of category A calls responded to within eight minutes. 96.8% of category A calls requiring transport received this within 19 minutes.
	The Ambulance Service with the fastest response time for this period was South East Coast Ambulance Service, which responded to 80.3% per cent, of category A calls within eight minutes. 98.6% of category A calls requiring transport received this within 19 minutes.

Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the East Midlands Ambulance Service achieves its target level of reaching 75% of life-threatening 999 calls in Northamptonshire within eight minutes.

Simon Burns: The performance of East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust is published monthly and monitored through regular discussions between the Department and NHS Midlands and East Strategic Health Authority and against the NHS Performance Framework.
	Latest performance (November 2011) for East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust on the proportion of Category A calls resulting in an emergency response arriving within eight minutes was 76.5%, with year to date performance at 75.4%. This is above the national threshold of 75%, with national performance at 77.1%.

Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the level of staff sickness in (a) the East Midlands Ambulance Service and (b) that part of the service based in Northamptonshire in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Data held by the National Health Service Information Centre for health and social care show that the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust had a sickness absence(1) rate of 7.11% in September 2011, the latest date for which figures are available.
	(1)The sickness absence rate is calculated by dividing the sum total sickness absence days by the sum total days available per month for each member of staff as recorded in the Electronic Staff Record. The NHS Information Centre is unable to determine the rate for the part of this trust that is based in Northamptonshire as it does not collect data at this level.

Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the governance arrangements for the East Midlands Ambulance Service for preventing and responding to failures in service delivery.

Simon Burns: Local commissioners are responsible for assessing the adequacy of the governance arrangements for the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Breast Cancer: Plastic Surgery

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he plans to issue to the NHS on categorising breast reconstruction as clinically necessary for breast cancer patients in cases where a private provider of PIP implants (a) no longer exists and (b) refuses to remove the implants; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, wrote to national health service general practitioners and specialists on 27 January to highlight certain points in her earlier letter of 6 January. Among other points, she drew attention to existing guidance, “Information for Commissioners of Plastic Surgery Services”, originally issued by the former Modernisation Agency, on the criteria for providing primary breast augmentation at NHS expense. Patients who have had a partial or complete mastectomy are explicitly referred to in the criteria. NHS commissioners will wish to take account of this guidance in deciding whether to fund replacement implants for patients whose provider no longer exists or refuses to honour their legal and moral obligations. Copies of all these documents have been placed in the Library.

Cancer: Drugs

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Paul Burstow: The Cancer Drugs Fund was launched on 1 April 2011 to help thousands of cancer patients access the drugs their clinicians believe will help them. We also made an additional £50 million available to strategic health authorities in 2010-11 to support improved access to cancer drugs.
	Since 1 October 2010, this funding has helped over 10,000 cancer patients in England to access the cancer drugs their clinicians recommend.

Cancer: Health Education

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the provision of educational material on diet to patients with cancer in other European countries; and what steps it plans to take to provide equivalent material to NHS patients.

Paul Burstow: The Department has not assessed the provision of educational material on diet to cancer patients in other European countries. There is a range of evidence to show that a healthy lifestyle including physical activity and diet after a diagnosis of cancer can influence outcomes and improve survival.
	In 2010-11, the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative piloted a number of health and wellbeing clinics for people who are living with or beyond cancer. Each clinic provided a one-stop shop service providing comprehensive and holistic information and support including advice on diet and exercise and referrals to physiotherapy/dietician services.
	Evidence emerging from an evaluation report published in September 2011 by the Office for Public Management (commissioned by Macmillan Cancer Support) suggests that patients who received supportive information and access to networking reported an increased confidence to self-manage their health; the ability to manage emotional distress and to take part in social activities; and a reduced use of health services.
	The evaluation report will inform the provision of any future health and wellbeing clinics.
	The National Cancer Action Team is also working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK to support the use of information prescriptions across various cancer care pathways to ensure that all cancer patients are able to access written information, including information regarding diet and cancer.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Children

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the results of research published in the online journal BMJ Open into the proportion of school children who have chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME); and what steps he plans to take in response to the finding of that research that less than 25 per cent. of children in England affected by CFS/ME have access to the health provision required by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines.

Anne Milton: The Government are committed to ensuring all children and young people have access to the health services they need, and we welcome the research report on the BMJ Online website and the recommendations within it. It will be a useful addition to the evidence base in this area.
	There are already initiatives being undertaken by Government that are seeking to improve health related services for children. On 26 January, we launched the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Strategy, which aims to maximise health outcomes that matter the most to children, young people their families and the professionals that support them. It will also show how all parts of the health system, with partners, will contribute to enabling every child and young, person to reach their full potential. The broad scope of the strategy will help to ensure that the issues in the report are considered.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on establishing clinical commissioning groups and determining their membership in the North East.

Simon Burns: The sixth cohort of Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) pathfinders was announced in October 2011, taking the number of pathfinders in the North East to 14, covering the entire population. Emerging CCGs are working with primary care trust and strategic health authority clusters on developing the right configurations, and consequently the number of individual CCGs would change when practices decide to configure differently.

Clinical Trials

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure rapid patient access to drugs at phase II of the clinical trial process;
	(2)  whether he has any plans to reduce the number of patients involved in clinical trial processes for the purposes of increasing patient safety.

Simon Burns: The Strategy for Life Sciences published by the Government on 5 December 2011 commits the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to bring forward for consultation proposals for an "Early Access Scheme" in early 2012. The strategy states that this new approach will support the use of promising new drugs to treat, diagnose or prevent life-threatening conditions where these conditions lack effective medical treatments.
	There is no plan to review the number of patients involved in clinical trial processes. The number of patients included in a clinical trial is determined by the trial design and the research, question being asked and the minimum number of patients required must be commensurate with reliable results.

Departmental Billing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of his Department's invoices from its private sector suppliers were paid (a) within 14 days, (b) between 15 and 30 days, (c) between 31 and 60 days, (d) between 61 and 90 days and (e) more than 90 days after receipt in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: The Department operates standard contractual payment terms of 30 days. However, the Department has also signed up to the Government's Prompt Payment policy under which the target is to pay all valid supplier invoices that are received at the nominated address within five days of receipt. Performance against this target is published on the Department web site within six days of the previous month.
	We also monitor the number of payments made within 10 days (the previous Prompt Payment target) and 30 days, which is our contractual obligation. We do not have data that reflects the other timescales requested. Details of the numbers and percentages of payments made to commercial suppliers in the period 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012 are as follows:
	Total number of payments for commercial organisations: 16,756
	Total paid within five days for commercial organisations: 10,111
	Percentage paid within five days for commercial organisations: 60.34%
	Total paid within 10 days for commercial organisations: 13,542
	Percentage paid within 10 days for commercial organisations: 80.82%
	Total paid within 30 days for commercial organisations: 15,692
	Percentage paid within 30 days for commercial organisations: 93.65%
	Total paid over 30 days for commercial organisations: 1,064
	Percentage paid over 30 days for commercial organisations: 6.35%

Departmental Manpower

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.

Simon Burns: In the financial year 2010-11 no jobs were transferred to the private sector from the Department, its Agency (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) or from its non-departmental bodies.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the national diabetes audit.

Paul Burstow: The National Diabetes Audit (Adults) 2010-11 publication timetable is shown as follows:
	
		
			  2012 
			 National Diabetes Audit Report: In-patient March 
			 National Diabetes Audit Report: Clinical processes and Outcomes May 
			 National Diabetes Audit Report: Kidney Disease June 
			 National Diabetes Audit Report: Mortality August 
			 National Diabetes Audit Report: Complications November 
			 National Diabetes Audit Report: Final November 
		
	
	Exact dates will be announced by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership as they are confirmed.
	The National Diabetes Audit 2009-10 (and previous years from 2003-04) is available publicly from the Health and Social Care Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/nda

Diabetes: Chiropody

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to National Institute for Clinical Excellence Clinical Guideline 10, how many podiatrists are required to provide foot health care to people diagnosed with diabetes; and what estimate he has made of the number of podiatrists needed to provide such care in 2022.

Paul Burstow: The annual NHS work force census shows that at 30 September 2010 there were 3,190 full-time equivalent podiatrists employed in the national health service in England. We have no estimate of how many will be employed by the NHS in 2022.
	Work force planning is a matter for local NHS organisations. They are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community and plan the work force to meet those needs.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instigate an audit of the implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence Clinical Guideline 10 on the prevention and management of diabetic foot complications.

Paul Burstow: Foot complications of diabetes are usually preventable, and if identified early enough can be treated effectively. Reducing the number of amputations due to diabetes relies on good self-management of diabetes and good services to support people with diabetes. Improvement to service provision is supported by robust audit processes, which are currently being implemented.

Diabetes: Orthopaedics

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many amputations were carried out for each 1,000 adults with diabetes in each primary care trust in England.

Paul Burstow: A table showing the incidence of minor and major amputations in practices participating in the 2009-10 National Diabetes Audit—which are the most recent data available—for each primary care trust (PCT) in England has been placed in the Library.
	The audit indicates that the incidence of minor amputations per 1,000 population is 1.4 (with a range of 0.3 to 4.5 across all PCTs in England). Figures for major amputations are 0.7 per 1,000 population (with a range of 0.0 to 1.8 across PCTs).
	The National Diabetes Audit reports incidence of amputations rather than prevalence of amputations. It shows the total number of amputations per 1,000 adults, not the number of adults with one or more amputations per 1,000 adults.

Drugs: Safety

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the views and expertise of non-medical prescribing leads are represented within clinical commissioning groups; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Government want clinical commissioning groups to have the flexibility to engage with the full range of health and care professionals to support the design of pathways of care and to shape services. Clinical commissioning groups will be required to obtain appropriate advice from a broad range of professionals, which can include non-medical professionals with prescribing responsibilities.
	Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for issuing guidance to commissioning groups (to which they must have regard) on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice, for example, in relation to working with multi-disciplinary clinical networks and senates.

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the potential savings from the commissioning of tertiary infertility services on a national basis; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Department is considering the future commissioning arrangements for infertility treatment, including in vitro fertilisation services. No final decisions have been taken at this stage.

Health Services: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much has been spent on redundancy payments by (a) Brent Primary Care Trust, (b) Harrow Primary Care Trust and (c) North West London Hospitals NHS Trust since May 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much has been spent on establishing the eight clinical commissioning groups in North West London since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This information is not centrally held. The hon. Member may wish to approach the relevant local national health service organisations.

Hospitals: Chiropody

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals do not have an in-patient podiatry service in England.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is the responsibility of local national health service organisations to commission services to meet the needs of their community including the provision of podiatry services for hospital in-patients.

IVF

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future arrangements for commissioning of in vitro fertilization treatment on the NHS.

Anne Milton: The Department, is considering the future commissioning arrangements for infertility treatment, including in vitro fertilisation services. No final decisions have been taken at this stage.

London Olympics 2012

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have accepted; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: No Ministers have been invited to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics. Information on whether senior officials have accepted invitations to any events could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mental Health Services: Prisoners

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target time is for referral by responsible clinicians working in prisons to complete the administrative process for the transfer of mentally ill offenders to alternative hospitals settings; and what the average time taken was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Mentally ill offenders are transferred from prison to alternative hospital settings under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983; there are no target times set for the administrative processes involved. A good practice procedure guide issued to the national health service in April 2011 includes an indicative timescale of 14 days from first assessment to transfer to hospital. Information about the time taken for referral by responsible clinicians is not collected centrally.

Midwives: Manpower

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were working in the NHS in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: The Information Centre for health and social care collects data on the number of midwives working in the national health service. The following table shows the number of qualified midwives working in the NHS in each of the last 10 years.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified midwives in England as at 30 September each year 
			 Registered midwife Headcount 
			 2000 22,572 
			 2001 23,075 
			 2002 23,249 
			 2003 23,941 
			 2004 24,844 
			 2005 24,808 
			 2006 24,469 
			 2007 25,093 
			 2008 25,664 
			 2009 26,451 
			 2010 26,825 
			 Note: The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers: Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-medical Workforce Census

Midwives: Training

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of training a midwife in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: Midwifery degrees are generally a three year course, for which the tuition and student support costs are funded through the Multi Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget issued to strategic health authorities.
	The tuition costs per midwifery degree student are covered by the national benchmark prices and trainees are also entitled to student support funding through MPET, in the form of a bursary. The average costs of training midwife over a three year degree course, for the latest period available, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Average cost of a midwifery degree 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			 £ 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Total 
			 National rates:     
			 Midwifery benchmark price 8,049 8,531 9,018 25,598 
			 Average amount paid per bursary(1) 5,751 5,765 5,722 17,238 
			 Average cost of training a midwife — — — 42,836 
			      
			 Outer London rates:     
			 Midwifery benchmark price 8,452 8,957 9,469 26,878 
			 Average amount paid per bursary(1) 5,751 5,765 5,722 17,238 
			 Average cost of training a midwife — — — 44,116 
			      
			 Inner London rates:     
			 Midwifery benchmark price 8,693 9,213 9,740 27,647 
			 Average amount paid per bursary(1) 5,751 5,765 5,722 17,238 
			 Average cost of training a midwife — — — 44,885 
			 (1) The average bursary includes both degree and diploma students. Source: National standard benchmark price contract NHS student bursaries scheme database 
		
	
	In addition to the above costs, most midwifery degree students will also be eligible for a student loan. This loan is provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	There are several other ways midwives can be trained and where an existing national health service employee is seconded on to a midwifery programme, the student would be entitled to a salary, rather than student support. These salary costs are not collected centrally.

NHS

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy to change the process for registration with a GP or for the accessing of treatment by the NHS.

Simon Burns: There are no current plans to change the process for registration with a general practitioner (GP). The policy is set out in the GP contract regulations.
	The Government announced in March 2011 that they will review the rules and practices around charging overseas visitors to the United Kingdom for national health service treatment, including the current qualifying criteria for accessing free NHS hospital treatment and whether charges should apply to overseas visitors for GP services and other non-hospital NHS treatment. This review is ongoing and no decisions have yet been made.

NHS: Procurement

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on procuring products and services by each NHS trust in 2010-11.

Simon Burns: The following table shows revenue expenditure at national health service trusts for finance year on clinical supplies and services and general supplies and services.
	Expenditure on clinical supplies and services is taken to include drugs, dressings, medical and surgical equipment, X-ray equipment and supplies, laboratory equipment, appliances (e.g. artificial limbs and wheelchair hardware) and the maintenance of equipment.
	Expenditure on general supplies and services is taken to include provisions and kitchen, contract hotel services (including cleaning and catering), uniforms and clothing, laundry and cleaning equipment and bedding and linen.
	The data is taken from NHS trusts audited summarisation schedules from which the NHS (England) Summarised Accounts are prepared. The Department does not collect accounting information from NHS foundation trusts. Where an NHS trust obtains foundation trust status part way through any year, the data provided is only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust.
	
		
			 £000 
			  Supplies and services 
			 NHS trust Clinical General 
			 Airedale NHS Trust 3,015 411 
			 Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Trust 26,781 2,723 
			 Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 6,411 2,800 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 56,429 10,137 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 48,395 7,883 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust 5,224 4,539 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust 146,296 17,774 
			 Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust 17,064 2,675 
			 Bradford District Care NHS Trust 7,021 1,744 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 76,860 17,435 
			 Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 46,627 20,945 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust 6,535 1,682 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 24,003 2,087 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust 1,900 598 
			 Devon Partnership NHS Trust 3,102 571 
			 Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 2,448 1,922 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 26,361 6,048 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 53,981 9,142 
			 East Cheshire NHS Trust 14,460 6,579 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 46,538 5,478 
			 East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 3,879 1,827 
			 East of England Ambulance Services NHS Trust 6,381 2,628 
			 East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 54,287 4,412 
			 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 56,893 9,304 
			 George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust 13,567 1,650 
		
	
	
		
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 72,081 3,092 
			 Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust 1,938 678 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 20,190 607 
			 Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust 17,389 3,064 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 102,631 13,428 
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 172,695 44,201 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 41,644 12,062 
			 Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust 7,604 2,916 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 27,006 1,563 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 208,800 8,049 
			 Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust 4,088 1,916 
			 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 6,839 2,694 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 52,763 4,603 
			 Manchester Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust 1,994 450 
			 Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 31,736 11,128 
			 Mersey Care NHS Trust 6,560 5,871 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 36,599 5,425 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 63,308 5,333 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 16,924 10,221 
			 NHS Direct NHS Trust 0 133 
			 North Bristol NHS Trust 81,808 5,940 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 38,613 5,326 
			 North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust 1,535 4,231 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 26,886 6,116 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 1,674 493 
			 North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 4,380 2,267 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 60,032 15,900 
			 Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 44,545 3,017 
			 Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 18,887 6,097 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 151,046 10,594 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 6,250 5,444 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust 18,912 262 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 152 481 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust 133,735 17,027 
			 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 81,472 15,344 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust 77,402 14,902 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 86,926 16,261 
		
	
	
		
			 Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 25,803 2,859 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Trust 21,775 2,045 
			 Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust 21,247 1,486 
			 Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust 55,313 4,545 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 168,973 5,507 
			 South West Yorks Mental Health NHS Trust 87,124 12,197 
			 Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust 36,481 3,722 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust 57,058 6,303 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 61,208 5,633 
			 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust 16,527 2,243 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust 46,001 4,385 
			 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust 4,972 1,163 
			 Sussex Community NHS Trust 17,518 1,741 
			 South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust 3,618 2,277 
			 South London Healthcare NHS Trust 71,933 12,722 
			 South West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 2,867 483 
			 South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust 4,331 6,012 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust 97,772 12,821 
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 17,164 2,153 
			 St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust 103,764 10,688 
			 St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 27,656 1,289 
			 Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 1,602 885 
			 Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust 29,266 1,624 
			 The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 28,538 7,867 
			 The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 26,853 1,935 
			 The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 24,442 5,406 
			 Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust 11,307 1,806 
			 United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust 68,918 7,711 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 71,375 4,393 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 75,078 5,802 
			 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust 129,312 22,987 
			 University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust 19,029 2,099 
			 Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust 26,263 3,133 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 38,309 8,457 
		
	
	
		
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 4,812 5,016 
			 West Middlesex University NHS Trust 25,204 4,568 
			 West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 5,682 2,352 
			 West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust 26,875 2,498 
			 Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust 55,253 4,018 
			 Weston Area Health NHS Trust 13,183 1,743 
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 32,691 11,577 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 25,420 2,917 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 21,743 2,136 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 49,700 4,702 
			 Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 2,810 2,320 
			 Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 3,339 1,060 
			 Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust 6,617 1,879 
			 Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust 21,134 3,711 
			 Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust 5,013 4,336 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Community Health NHS Trust 13,271 4,917 
			 Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust 11,487 2,845 
			 Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust 7,263 1,113 
			 Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust 6,897 4,952 
			 Ashton Leigh and Wigan Community Healthcare NHS Trust 2,344 737 
			 Total 4,321,637 655,906 
			 Source: Audited summarisation schedules, 2010-11.

Nurses

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's announcement of 6 January 2012 on the Time to Care initiative, if he will provide further details on the initiative; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the initiative on (a) the proportion of time spent by nurses on (i) hourly ward rounds and (ii) administrative procedures and paperwork considered non-essential and (b) nurse to patient ratios on acute hospital wards.

Anne Milton: Further details about the Productive Series 'Releasing Time to Care' are available on the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement's website at:
	www.institute.nhs.uk/quality_and_value/productivity_series/the_productive_series.html
	The package of measures announced on 6 January are about showing staff what is already working in some places and what the rest can do to achieve the level of the best.

Nurses

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average number of patients is per qualified nurse in NHS hospitals;
	(2)  what his policy is on a mandatory qualified nurse to patient ratio in NHS hospitals.

Anne Milton: Information about the average number of patients per nurse is not available centrally and it would not be appropriate to mandate patient to nurse ratios. Decisions about staff to patient ratios are best made by local clinicians and managers, and may vary according to factors such as the individual needs of patients, their levels of acuity and dependency, the nature of the clinical care they require and the layout of the clinical area.
	There is guidance available to trusts to assist them in setting safe and sustainable staffing levels. For example the RCN guidance and Safer Nursing Care Tool developed by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
	The Care Quality Commission requires registered providers to take appropriate steps to ensure that, at all times, there are sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced persons employed for the purpose of carrying on the regulated activity. CQC Guidance about Compliance, references guidance set out by, for example, professional bodies.

Out-patients

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the services offered to patients following discharge from an NHS hospital.

Paul Burstow: No one should be made to stay in hospital longer than necessary. The national health service and social care must work together to ensure people have the support they need on leaving hospital.
	The new Clinical Commissioning Groups will bring together general practitioners, specialist doctors and nurses to shape the best local care for patients, helping to avoid unnecessary delays.
	We continue to take significant steps to improve the services offered to patients following discharge from hospital. For example, we announced on 3 January 2012, a one-off additional allocation of.£150 million to primary care trusts in England, for immediate transfer to local authorities for investment in social care services which also benefit the health system. The aim of these monies is to reduce the pressure on health services, and particularly hospitals during the winter period. This new investment will enable local services to discharge patients from hospital more quickly and provide effective ongoing support for people in their own homes.
	The Department is investing extra cash to help people return to their homes after a spell in hospital—by 2012-13 this will be £300 million per year. This money will help people to leave hospital more quickly, where appropriate, and get settled back at home with the support they need.

Perinatal Mortality

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of stillbirths.

Anne Milton: The. Government have made reducing perinatal mortality, including stillbirth, an improvement area under domain one of the NHS Outcomes Frameworks for 2011-12 arid 2012-13. To support the national health service in improving outcomes in pregnancy, labour and immediately after birth, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is developing new quality standards, based on the best available evidence, on antenatal care, intrapartum care and postnatal care.
	The Department also continues to invest in research. A major focus of the Department's National Institute for Health Research programme on women's health is understanding the factors linked to stillbirth and to use that information to improve the clinical care of pregnant women. In addition, the Department is currently working with Sands (the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity) and other organisations to identify what more can be done to reduce the number of stillborn babies.

Smoking: Health Services

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people attended NHS Stop Smoking services in each quarter of 2010-11;
	(2)  how many people made calls to the NHS Stop Smoking Quitline in each quarter of 2010-11;
	(3)  what funding his Department has allocated to health promotion advertising campaigns on the dangers of smoking in each quarter since the start of 2010-11.

Anne Milton: The NHS Information Centre collects data on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, including the number of people setting a quit date with these services, and the number who successfully quit four weeks after setting a quit date.
	In 2010-11 period, 787,527 people set a quit date through NHS Stop Smoking Services. This is a 4% increase from 2009-10 when 757,537 people set a quit date.
	The breakdown for each quarter of 2010-11 for the number of people setting a quit date and the number of people who successfully quit four weeks after their quit date is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 People setting a quit date and successful quitters by quarter 2010-11 
			 Quarter 2010-11 Number setting a quit date Number of successful quitters 
			 April-June 190,418 89,415 
			 July-September 177,813 85,206 
			 October-December 167,591 82,041 
			 January-March 251,705 126,886 
			 Total 787,527 383,548 
		
	
	Data on NHS Stop Smoking Services is available in the NHS Information Centre's publication “Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services: England, April 2010-March 2011”. A copy has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/sss1011
	The number of calls to the NHS Smokefree helpline operating in England during 2010-11 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
			 April-June 2010 20,896 
			 July-September 2010 16,817 
			 October-December 2010 15,008 
			 January-March 2011 21,920 
			 Total 74,641 
		
	
	The Department's expenditure on health promotion advertising campaigns on the dangers of smoking and encouraging people to quit since 2010-11 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure (£) 
			 2010-11  
			 Q1 — 
			 Q2 — 
			 Q3 — 
			 Q4 458,254 
			   
			 2011-12  
			 Q1 — 
			 Q2 — 
			 Q3 2,100,732 
			 Q4 2,100,732 
		
	
	These figures do not include recruitment or classified advertising costs. Advertising spend is defined as covering only media spend (inclusive of agency commissions but excluding production costs, Central Office of Information commission and VAT). All figures exclude advertising rebates and audit adjustments and therefore may differ from Central Office of Information official turnover figures.
	The 2011-12 Q4 spend listed is allocated expenditure, and may be subject to change.

Smoking: Motor Vehicles

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health report on smoking in private vehicles;
	(2)  if he will consider bringing forward legislation to prevent exposure of children to smoke in cars in the event that the planned national marketing campaign does not significantly reduce the incidence of exposure;
	(3)  what steps he has taken to explore new roles for marketing communications in encouraging people to make their family cars smoke-free;
	(4)  what targets he has set to evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing strategy in achieving a reduction in the number of people smoking in cars with children.

Anne Milton: The All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health's report and the hon. Member's recent private Member's Bill on smoking in cars, particularly where children are present, have helped to highlight this important public health issue. The Department is currently considering the range of issues raised and what other action, is required to address this challenge in addition to the planned marketing campaign.
	The Department is developing a national marketing campaign, planned for spring 2012, to remind smokers of the risks of exposing children and adults to second hand smoke so that they take voluntary action to make their homes and cars smokefree. The Department is also developing an evaluation framework to measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Social Services: Females

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of jobs in adult social care are filled by women.

Paul Burstow: Skills for Care estimate there are 1.77 million jobs in adult social care. The proportion of jobs filled by women is estimated to be 83%(1).
	(1 )Skills for Care NMDS-SC November 2011.

Social Services: Finance

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in funding for social care on (a) avoidable emergency admissions and (b) NHS costs.

Paul Burstow: Effective partnership working and integration are key enablers in delivering against the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention challenge within the national health service, and supporting improved efficiency within social care. This includes ensuring the people do not stay, in hospital longer than they need to.
	The Department has put in place practical measures to support social care services, in the context of a challenging local government settlement, and to encourage improved joint working between primary care trusts (PCTs) and local authorities. In 2011-12, £648 million has been allocated to PCTs to transfer to councils for spending on social care services that also benefit health. The Department has been clear that PCTs and local authorities will need to work together closely in order to agree appropriate areas of social care investment, taking account of joint priorities identified by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for their local populations. Evidence from a survey of PCTs suggests that this funding is being used both to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital (through crisis response services for example), and to ensure people are able to leave hospital quickly (through intermediate care and re-ablement services for example).
	A further £150 million (rising to £300 million in 2012-13) has been allocated to PCTs for the development of post-discharge support and re-ablement services. There is local discretion over how this money is to be spent, but in a letter to the service the Department has been clear that:
	"This funding is intended specifically to develop current reablement capacity in councils, community health services, the independent and voluntary sectors, with the objective of ensuring rapid recovery from an acute episode and reducing people's dependency on social care services following discharge".
	Finally in addition to these funding streams, the Department announced on 3 January 2012 that it was making a further £150 million available to PCTs, to transfer to local authorities for spending on social care. The Department has set out that this funding should be used to target delayed transfers of care which are attributable to social care services.
	Recently published data shows that the number of patients experiencing delayed discharge from hospital has fallen to its lowest level since this data has been collected. In December 2011, 3,659 patients experienced a delayed transfer of care, a 5.6% fall on the same month last year. This suggests that additional funding provided by the Government to promote joint working between health, and social care services is having a positive impact in reducing costs to the NHS.

Social Services: Reform

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the reform of social care; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The care and support White Paper and progress report on funding reform, planned for spring 2012, will set out the Government's plans for transforming the care and support system.
	To understand what the priorities for reform should be, the Government launched “Caring for our future” in autumn 2011. We worked with leaders from the care and support community, supported by expert reference groups, to seek a broad range of views from people who use care and support services, carers, local councils, care providers and the voluntary sector. Further details on the engagement, discussion leads and the output from key events can be found at:
	www.caringforourfuture.dh.gov.uk
	During the engagement and since it formally ended, Ministers have met with a range of organisations about reform of care and support.
	The Department is currently reflecting on the findings and will continue to work with stakeholders to develop policy and to help us decide the approach to the care and support White Paper and progress report on funding reform.

Thromboembolism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) were diagnosed in each of the last five years; in how many cases VTE was identified as the (a) primary and (b) secondary cause of death on death certificates; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of cases of VTE.

Simon Burns: There is currently no single definition of venous thromboembolism (VTE) available in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). We have provided in the following table data for finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where a diagnosis code of one or more of the relevant ICD-10 codes for VTE has been recorded. A full list of these codes is included in the footnotes.
	It should be noted that these data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion, or may have been treated for more than one type of VTE.
	
		
			 Finished consultant episodes (1)  with a primary or secondary diagnosis of VTE, 2006-07 to 2010-11: Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  FCEs 
			 2010-11 125,785 
			 2009-10 120,903 
			 2008-09 113,142 
			 2007-08 105,404 
			 2006-07 103,561 
			 Notes: 1. Finished consultant episode (FCE): A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year, 2. Number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary or secondary diagnosis: The number of episodes where, this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. The combined ICD-10 codes for VTE are detailed as follows: ICD-10 codes used for pulmonary embolism are: I26.0—Pulmonary embolism with mention of acute cor pulmonale I26.9—Pulmonary embolism without mention of acute cor pulmonale The following ICD-10 codes are for Deep Vein Thrombosis where site is known: I80.0—Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of superficial vessels of lower extremities I80.1—Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of femoral Vein I80.2—Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of other deep vessels of lower extremities I80.3—Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of lower extremities, unspecified I80.8—Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of other site I80.9—Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site O22.2- Superficial thrombophlebitis in pregnancy O22.3—Deep phlebothrombosis in pregnancy O87.0—Superficial thrombophlebitis in the puerperium O87.1—Deep phlebothrombosis 3. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 4. Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care 
		
	
	The condition ‘venous thromboembolism’ includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
	The following table gives the number of deaths where deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were the underlying cause of death or were mentioned on the death certificate, England, 2006-10(1,2,3,4,5). As these conditions are usually due to another disease or injury, they may not be the underlying cause of death. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have been combined within this answer, because when one is part of the sequence leading to death, the other nearly always is as well, whether it is mentioned on the certificate or not.
	
		
			 Deaths (persons) 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Underlying cause 6,410 6,121 6,170 6,218 6,282 
			 Any mention 11,881 11,556 11,810 11,858 12,256 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes 180 (phlebitis and thrombophlebitis), O22.2-O22.3 (superficial thrombophlebitis and deep phlebothrombosis in pregnancy), O87.0-O87.1(superficial thrombophlebitis and deep phlebothrombosis in puerperium), and I26 (pulmonary embolism) where one of these conditions was the underlying cause of death or was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor. (2) The figures in row 1 (underlying cause) and row 2 (any mention) should not be combined to give the total number of deaths, as the figures in row 1 are already included in the figures in row 2. (3) Deaths from phlebitis or thrombophlebitis of superficial vessels have been included in order to ensure consistency with the diagnoses figures. However, these causes are not normally included in ONS figures for VTC. (4) Figures for persons usually resident in England, based on boundaries as of November 2011. (5) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	Saving lives by preventing VTE remains a priority for the NHS and this Government and our national VTE prevention programme is regarded internationally as the most comprehensive of any health care system.
	We have established a National CQUIN goal on VTE to ensure that 90% of admitted patients are risk assessed for VTE over three consecutive months, and have seen significant improvements in compliance with risk assessment over the last year.
	While we aim to ensure that patients at risk of VTE are identified on admission to hospital and receive appropriate preventive measures, we acknowledge that more could be done. We continue to work with key partners to secure ongoing improvements in the standard of VTE prevention to reduce avoidable death and long-term disability and we remain determined to tackle this important patient safety issue.

Tinnitus

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to assist primary care trusts in treating patients with tinnitus; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The planning and delivery of services is a matter for local commissioners and providers.
	Considerable improvements in hearing services have been made over recent years including reduced waits for assessment and treatment of hearing problems. Action taken to support the delivery of services for people with tinnitus includes:
	publication of “Provision of Services for Adults with Tinnitus—A Good Practice Guide” by the Department of Health in January 2009—this guide provided practical evidence-based advice on how to improve access to, and experience of, tinnitus services. This document has been placed in the Library.
	publication of “Shaping, the Future: Strengthening the evidence to transform audiology services” by NHS Improvement in March 2011—this report demonstrates the potential to improve both clinical outcomes and patient experience for people with hearing problems while improving national health service efficiency. It includes examples of several trusts that have successfully tested the introduction of direct access tinnitus services. This document has been placed in the Library.
	In addition, from 15 August to 14 October 2011 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Quality Board ran an engagement exercise on the development of a library of NICE Quality Standard topics for the NHS. The list of proposed Quality Standard topics included tinnitus. An announcement on next steps will be made in due course.